9.3.21 by The Penn

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

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N E W S Students, staff discuss future plans News Editor: Benjamin Brumbaugh – msqy@iup.edu

Discussions centered around 2020 to 2025 Strategic Plan JULIA ROBINS Staff Writer spxbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Thursday, during the Common Hour of 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., leaders of IUP hosted “Many Voices, One Future: The Road Ahead for IUP” at the Gorell Recital Hall, highlighting the new student-centered 2020 to 2025 Strategic Plan. “The 2025 strategic plan is designed to transform the culture at IUP to enhance the student experience by fostering exceptional student centeredness,” Paula Stossel, the co-chair of the University Planning Council and Associate Vice President for enrollment management, said. Stossel noted that the plan is shorter than previous plans. “This is intentional and is meant to provide an umbrella for all of our units and divisions and departments and individuals to roll up into. Getting everybody the flexibility that they need to do the work within their areas, but again, moving towards the umbrella that we are all striving for, which is student centeredness,” Stossel said. Dr. Scott Moore is another cochair of the University Planning Council and a history professor. “Our hope is that every college, decision, unit and person will use it as a lens to focus their attention on what they are doing.” A key point of his was communication through coordinating the efforts of professors who head similar programs and eliminating red tape that staff members still follow from a decade ago. “It is not saying that you are not doing great work,” Moore said. “It is ‘how can we help you to do it easier and more effectively; how can we help you get the university out of your way; how can we get rid of the stupid things that you have to do that you feel are keeping you from doing your job?’” Moore also reiterated the main point of student centeredness.

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“Every student is a priority,” Moore said. “We pick impact areas that are basically a student’s life: being ready for IUP, being academically successful, maintaining good mental health, making professional connections and opportunities, and making great graduates and alumni as they move forward.” Dr. Patricia McCarthy is the vice president for Division of Enrollment Management. “We will provide academic programs that are attractive to prospective and current students, [and] offer, promote and live a culture of belonging, respect and support,” McCarthy said. “The SEP (Strategic Enrollment Plan) plan proposes strategies for demonstrating the value of IUP to a broader audience using an integrated and coordinated effort, including building partnerships that strengthen the visibility and reach of the university.” She described how the SEP came to be out of a partnership with the consulting firm Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) in 2019. By considering all factors from both qualitative and quantitative data that influence enrollment, they were able to create an overarching plan for university-wide enrollment that will emphasize collaboration from the IUP community and a continuing education plan to help students achieve their dreams. Led by 25 people with executive oversight from the president’s cabinet, subject areas and key performance indicators were developed. The subject areas that were used to springboard the creation of the plan and for which key performance indicators were developing included the academic program array, external engagement, finance and affordability, marketing and communications, recruitment, and student success. From each of those subject areas, committees totaling over 50 members of IUP were formed that did qualitative and quantitative research both within and outside of IUP. They submitted their situation

(The Penn/Julia Robins) The turnout for the event was not as high as some administrators had hoped as many students were in class as the event was occurring. Students who did not attend can watch the meeting on YouTube. analysis to a committee and the president's cabinet for approval. The action plans that were approved to move forward focus on a variety of themes. One of which is always putting the student experience first, addressing the changing needs of IUP students at all academic levels with a note to restructure the Student Success Center. Specific outreach for the Latino community and marginalized groups were discussed, ensuring that they have support when becoming a part of IUP, and creating specific pathways for them to reach higher degrees. “You didn’t hear me say numbers of students. You did not hear me say the size of IUP, but instead ways in which we can provide for students at all levels, the opportu-

September 3, 2021

nities they want and the tools they need to succeed in their goals,” McCarthy said. Completely rethinking IUP’s current recruitment model for both undergraduate and graduate students was something of focus, as well as a specific retention plan for graduate students. On March 30, Chancellor Greenstein said in his town hall that the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) system will be completely out of money by 2027, and IUP was listed as financially unstable. According to a recent article from PennLive, this is the 11th consecutive year of a decline in enrollment, and that trend applies to IUP, as shown here. Improving enrollment and gaining money from tuition is an important

part in the financial recovery and preservation of the PASSHE system as a whole and of IUP’s. “We need to nurture and expand the IUP network of strategic partners who could be influencers for prospective students, advocates and mentors for our current students, and be sources of experiential learning,” McCarthy said. McCarthy also spoke of reaching out to local high schools, working closely with school counselors, principals and students, and not only providing them carefully selected financial support, but additionally a new incentive program. “We can have students from anywhere come in and be able to start their college education early at a discounted price,” McCarthy said. Continued on Page 6

September 3, 2021

News

First IUP student to win major scholarship Kyle Kubicko awarded Statler Foundation’s Scholarship of Excellence in the hotel management field. Kubicko was in disbelief when he discovered that he had been selected for the scholarship. An IUP student became the “I was absolutely ecstatfirst to be awarded the Statler ic, and I honestly thought Foundation’s Scholarship of that it was some sort of Excellence. fake letter,” Kubicko said. Kyle Kubicko (senior, “It really allowed me to hotel, restaurelax a bit before the serant, tourism mester and to plan to take and event more classes once I knew management) that money would be less of Natrona of an issue.” Heights was Kubicko credits his adawarded the visor, Dr. Stephen Shiring scholarship (hospitality management), which is with pushing him to apply worth up to for the scholarship and $25,000. with mentoring him and According preparing him for his to https:// career. www.snpo.org/ “I was notified by Dr. publications/ Shiring that I would be fundingalert_de(iup.edu) a good candidate for the tails.php?id=161, the Mr. Kubicko worked closely with Chef Barnes of the culinary academy. scholarship, and I thought Statler Foundation was “crethat I would have a good that to the next level,” Kubicko “After rotating through the varated from the estate of hotelier chance at winning it because of said. “My passion for traveling ious restaurants on their [Breakers Ellsworth Statler following his that, “Kubicko definitely impacted my career Resort] property, I eventually said. “In one of Dr. choice. I know that everyone in found my home at the Flagler Shiring’s classes the world needs to eat and so Steakhouse,” Kubicko said. last semester, he that I would have work no matter “This was an amazing experiintroduced us to where I traveled.” ence, and I worked with a chef several leaders “I am also interested in the who really helped bring out my in various sectors regional cuisine of the different strengths as a culinarian and furof the industry parts of the United States, and to thered my culinary education.” and allowed us to better learn how to cook in the Kubicko has big career plans make professional style of places such as New Orafter he graduates from IUP in connections with leans, the southern border, New May 2022. them.” England, to name a few.” “I hope to return to my externKubicko, a 2019 IUP’s Department of Hospiship and work there seasonally, graduate of IUP’s tality Management and Culinary and during their off season I have culinary academy, Academy has given Kubicko the been looking into applying for a attributes his passeasonal position at one of our skills that he needs to be sucsion for his major national parks,” Kubicko said. cessful. to his passions for “Not in the immediate future, “Through the Culinary Acadcooking and travel. but later in life, after I have gained emy, I was set up for success “I have always more experience, I would love to due to the experience I gained had a passion to open my own restaurant.” there,” Kubicko said. “I also have cook, and after To learn more about scholarlearned a lot from my classes in receiving my assoship opportunities and about the hospitality, especially in the HR ciate’s degree in programs within the Department (human resources) field.” Culinary Arts from of Hospitality Management, visit Kubicko completed his externthe culinary acad(Slideplayer.com/Poppy Floyd) its website: https://www.iup.edu/ ship at the Breakers Resort in emy here at IUP, it IUP’s Department of Hospitality Managment has been ranked by study.com as hospitality-mgt/. Palm Beach, Florida. allowed me to take one of the best in the nation. The department is focused on student success. BEN BRUMBAUGH News Editor msqy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

death [in 1928].” Furthermore, according to https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=STAT005, the purpose of the Statler Foundation is as stated, “Education and research for the benefit of the hotel industry in the U.S. Income used for awards to colleges and schools teaching hotel techniques and for grants to schools and others for research projects and for programs to train and increase the proficiency of hotel workers.” “The foundation also supports culinary arts and hotel management programs.” The scholarship is awarded to students who excel academically

News

September 3, 2021

Students, staff discuss future plans

Continued from Page 3 Their campaigns have raised $81.4 million to help students for a long time to come in the new emergency student assistance fund. McCarthy also clarified that the strategic plan is not rigid or the only methods that can be used. “This set plan should be reviewed and considered a dynamic document that can be changed and improved upon as we assess it,” McCarthy said. “The goals, strategies and

action plans, while specific, can be considered launching points for additional or approved tactics that would enhance the overall goal of student success.” One major point that Dr. Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna, the vice president for University Enhancement, made is that this meeting outlined the goals and strategies that will be used to make changes through 2025, but the specific “how” is dependent upon the IUP community’s feedback. The student-centered program cannot address student

and community needs without knowing what they are. “We need your voice,” Osseiran-Hanna said. “We need to think about what transformational impact we will have.” “If IUP went away, what would be lost in this community? If you think about that for a second, it is an incredible loss.” In the Oak Grove from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., members of each committee asked for student and professor feedback for changes both in conversation and written suggestions.

A popular station asked, “How do you envision the student activity spaces and classroom/academic spaces of IUP in the future?” Many written responses focused on flexible classroom settings to make it easier for group work and more options for outdoor settings. One station was to draw a smiley face on a post-it note and stick it in the category of which goal/idea in the strategic plan is the most important to them. Leading the student vote were improving methods of recruiting

students as opposed to creating innovative programs and more research initiatives. The distribution patterns of the sticky-notes might have been different if more students had been present. Most people who stopped by were the same professors and staff members from the meeting. Students who missed the gallery walk in the Oak Grove can submit their feedback by filling out this survey, and a video recording of the entire event is still available on IUP’s YouTube channel.

September 3, 2021

News

IUP selected for ‘Best Colleges’ guidebook Selection based on student surveys and interviews BEN BRUMBAUGH News Editor msqy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP selected to appear in The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” 2022 guidebook. For 21 years in a row, IUP achieved a spot in the guidebook based on a variety of factors determined by The Princeton Review editors that continue to hold it to a high Return on Investment value. According to https://www. princetonreview.com/college-rank-

ings/best-colleges, “For our 30th edition, we surveyed 154,000 students from across the country and looked back at our ranking lists from the past to find those schools consistently recognized for things like financial aid, career services and great food.” About 15 percent of the fouryear colleges and universities in the United States were chosen for the 2022 incarnation of the guidebook. Students who were surveyed as a part of the review’s research spoke very highly of the university. Also according to https://www.

princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges, “Indiana University of Pennsylvania maintains a simple way of doing things—provide students with an ‘inexpensive’ education replete with ‘respected’ programs. Indeed, from the ‘good business school’ to the ‘great writing program,’ undergrads have their pick of some truly stellar academic departments.” “Many undergrads at Indiana University of Pennsylvania steadfastly assert that there’s ‘no typical student here.’ Because of this, everyone can fit in with at least one type of group.” “There are many opportunities to get involved on campus. Students can participate in ‘everything from National Honors Societies to sports teams and everything in between,’” as stated on the website. Emily Beyer (sophomore, early childhood/special education) agrees with these sentiments. “I believe what makes IUP one of the best colleges in the nation is the variety of programs offered,” Beyer said. “What I like about IUP is that it is a welcoming environment. No matter what background, culture, religion or race you are, everyone is treated equal-

(randomhouse.com) The Princeton Review guidebook has been helping students find a college that is right for them and that will fit their needs for 30 years.

ly and fairly.” “IUP is a great school to not only succeed in your major of choice, but also to make those friendships that will last a lifetime.” IUP Executive Director of Media Relations Michelle Fryling said that the recognition means a lot to her and her colleagues. “It’s very gratifying to see external experts, who work in the education field, choose IUP for this distinction,” Fryling said. “It reinforces what we know: we are an outstanding university, equal to other outstanding universities all over the country.” Fryling believes that students speak highly of the university because of the positive effect that it has on their lives. “I continue to see students and alumni who are so passionate about IUP because it changed their lives for the better; alumni often say that their time at IUP was the best time of their life,” Fryling said. “Our alumni love IUP and want to help students to be here and ease their academic journey through scholarships, offering networking opportunities for jobs and

internships, and being available to talk to IUP students.” The sustained period of success that IUP has experienced is due to the university’s student-centered approach to learning and campus life. “It’s because we work very hard to keep student success at the center of our goals and our priorities,” Fryling said. “When you create your ‘center,’ and develop your goals and work plans to accomplish the goal at your center – student success – it keeps you focused on excellence.” Fryling shared a story that she feels encapsulates what makes IUP great for students. “We were in the midst of doing some strategic planning, and there was about 200 people – faculty, staff, students – talking about ‘what is IUP,’” Fryling said. “Someone said, ‘IUP is a place where everyone knows your name.’” “We all nodded, but then a faculty member raised his hand and said, ‘That’s not correct. I know much more about my students than just their name. I know who they are and what they hope to become.’” “That really said it all,” she said.

(iup.edu) IUP’s campus offers a lot of beautiful scenery like the Oak Grove for students to take in.

News

September 3, 2021

Program supports, mentors students Crimson Scholars Circle helps students adjust to college life MOLLY CUNNINGHAM Contributing Writer kydy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

(iup.edu/Brian Henry) IUP actively works to make sure that all students have opportunities for success. The Crimson Scholars Circle works to close the retention gap between Black, brown and white students.

Crimson Scholars Circle is a yearlong program through the university that provides 70 Crimson Scholars with the needed support from 14 mentors to transition into college. Mentors meet with their Crimson Scholars weekly to provide guidance and support. Associate Professor and Chairperson Department of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success Dr. Luke Faust taught a lesson to these scholars about inspiration and notetaking strategies. “Students were inspired and learned some notetaking and time management skills in the process,” Faust said. IUP is doing its part to not be a part of the national trend of the declining retention rate. There was a study published in 2019 by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center at a public fouryear institution that found “70.8 percent for white students and 63.7 percent for Black students” that returned to the college. The Crimson Scholars Circle is specifically designed to reduce the retention and persistence gap for Black and brown students. The term “retention rate” is the percentage of entering students who choose to return to the same institution while the persistence rate is the total percentage of the first-time entering students who choose to return to any college institution rather than the same one. In addition, this program provides alumni programming, networking and mentoring opportunities. Participants became Crimson Scholars once they were chosen based off of their applications. “The opportunities are that I get to meet new people and it helps me to be confident,” Hawa Issahak (freshman, food and nutrition) said. Crimson Scholars have participated in activities for bonding

with their mentors along with building skills. The summer event allowed for the program to begin and for the mentors and scholars to meet and to get to know each other. Mentors have completed the needed training to guide their scholars and give them a sense of community and camaraderie on campus. In the summer event, scholars and mentors participated in team-building exercises in the Oak Grove. Mentors have the job of being a role model to those scholars. They provide university resources and are there to answer any questions the scholars may have. Mentors have the responsibility to support their scholars academically and lead them to the resources that they may need throughout the year. “We went hiking and we had a lot of activities,” Issahak said. “They asked us questions and we answered them.” This program allows for these scholars to have learning opportunities to help with their education experience and to provide them with opportunities for networking. Leadership skills were one of the components of the early immersion week, and the idea is for students to get involved and to make the most of their time in college. Because of a generous donor, Crimson Scholars and their student mentors will both individually receive $1,000 scholarships. The additional key collaborators who contribute to this program include Admissions, Financial Aid, University College, Student Success, Academic Services, Institutional Research and the Division of Student Affairs. The Crimson Scholars Circle is a well-rounded program with a mission to teach skills, increase self-efficiency and meet new people. The Crimson Scholars will learn from their devoted mentors throughout the year and will develop skills that they will be able to use throughout their college careers and the rest of their lives.

September 3, 2021

News

Opinion Dining troubles disappoint students (The Penn Archives) Recently, many students have been experiencing trouble with their meal swipes at both the Hadley Union Building and North Dining Hall. While there are people back on campus and all seems to be going well, there is an underlying issue to yet be adressed on campus: the dining. Campus dining has gone more and more downhill as time has progressed throughout the past few years. There are many issues that have only gotten worse because of the poor way that dining is being handled. That fact is especially evident this year. While it is understood that the dining halls are understaffed and that the dining staff is trying to work with students, the problem has been magnified by the way IUP has treated the issue. To start, the only regularly open dining hall is North Dining Hall. While this may not seem to be a huge issue on its own, there are several problems with the hall itself. The options at North are lacking to say the least. There are the more constant and regular food options like burgers and pizza, but there is little to no variation between them. Sure, there are other options, but they are not interesting or unique at all. This lack of innovation could be remedied if other halls were open,

Opinion

but that is not the case. Foster Hall, which had been closed for some time, was officially demolished recently. It may not have been open for a while, but it would still provide another dining option for students on campus. More options equal better dining, and it seems that IUP has decided to make interesting dining harder to come by. Along with the fall of Foster Hall, there was Folger Dining Hall. Folger and North have been the two main dining halls for a while, with the two working together to handle the wide range of students. That is, until the past couple years when Folger was closed and then repurposed for the new Folger: After Dark. While the after dark aspect is a great idea because it helps students who were too busy during the day to go to North or the Hadley Union Building (HUB), there is the issue that is the most confusing aspect of its existence. If Folger: After Dark can exist, why can Folger itself not be open regularly? The reason that this becomes an issue is because of the lunch and dinner rush that occurs at North. Every day, you will likely see a line

of students coming out of North waiting to enter the building to get food. This is a problem. For example, if a student is on a tight schedule, there would be an issue because they would not have the time required to get in the building in time, much less eat a meal. With all of that in mind, there are even more concerns to unpack. The issue that comes to mind is the problem with meal swipes and the need to have Flex. Recently, meal swipes have been causing issues for many students all across campus with some not appearing as they should or not counting at dining halls. If a student is just trying to use their meal swipes as they normally would, there is a possibility that they might not be able to get food just because the dining is so messed up that the swipes they pay for are not working as they should. As was mentioned prior, the need for Flex is another issue. IUP practically begs students to add Flex dollars to their meal plan. Without Flex, there are many normal dining options that they simply cannot access. Places like Chick-Fil-A and Einstein’s in the HUB are not optimized for the use of meal swipes, with

September 3, 2021

Grille Works and Revolve offering options that are a little odd and not as comprehensive as the options that are available with Flex. Considering that, there is also the Crimson Café predicament. Apart from being rather overpriced at some places, it only accepts Flex. There is no real alternative for people that just could not afford to spend the extra money to get Flex. What happens to them if the only dining hall is closed and Folger: After Dark does not accept the meal swipe for whatever reason that may be. It is a real issue and the fact that the university has not addressed it is troubling to say the least. The use of Grubhub is yet another concerning point with the campus dining that needs work. Last year, Grubhub became widely used as it was ideal in a more contactless setting, which was how the world had to operate at the time. Now, there is less of an emphasis on contactless activities, but, at places like the HUB, Grubhub is still being supported. This does not work at all. Someone who orders through the app and someone who orders in person both have to deal with

incredibly long wait times, occasionally hitting upwards of 40 minutes just for food from Revolve. It is a completely unnecessary wait, but it is caused because there is an attempt to continue supporting Grubhub. Now, should it be removed completely? The answer there is no. It is convenient and good for those in a rush, but it could definitely be done better and used in a smarter way. It is clear that it was attempted to be removed all together in favor of in-person ordering, only to then be kept in place for a reason that seems incredibly unclear and nonsensical. With all of that in mind, be sure you know when to get food to try to combat the rush hours. It may be tricky to nail down at first, but it can be figured out with time. Go out, be safe when doing so and enjoy what you can through campus dining. It is far from the best, but it is all that we as IUP students have. So, we have to take what we can get and roll with that. Good luck out there, everyone.

Brought to you By The Penn Staff

Culture

Culture Editor: Lane Lannan – ffpcc@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Caio Gomes – hysbc@iup.edu

Homecoming headliners announced Lil Yachty, Social House coming to IUP

(Facebook/Lil Yachty/Social House) Tickets for the concert can be purchased at Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex for $22 with an I-Card and $42 for the general public. CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The Student Activity Committee (STATIC) has officially announced Lil Yachty as the headliner for IUP’s 2021 Homecoming concert. The announcement was made Tuesday at noon after a weeklong of teasing that kept many students excited, wondering who would be the guest. STATIC had originally planned on announcing the homecoming lineup on Monday, but, due to unknown reasons, the announcement was made a day late. This, however, was not seen as an issue by anyone. In fact, most students took the delay with a light heart and decided to take the humorous route by joking about it on social media; all in good fun, of course. STATIC embraced the humor, even reposting some of the memes made by students on its Instagram stories.

“I don’t run social media, so I wasn’t the person who shared the [student-made] memes on [STATIC’s] Instagram stories, but I do think that they were quite funny,” Sydney Greitz (sophomore, psychology), one of STATIC’s student workers, said. “If anything, I felt like they helped [in] building up even more excitement to the concert. It became something nice to speculate, like, ‘Who will be this mysterious headliner?’” Tuesday, the mystery was finally over as STATIC confirmed Lil Yachty as the headliner.

Born as Miles McCollum, the artist from Atlanta describes his music

style as “bubblegum trap.” Lil Yachty first gained recognition in 2016 after his debut single “One Night” was featured in a viral video named, “When Bae Hits You With ‘So What Are We?’” The song charted within the top 50 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and was certified Platinum for over one million units that were consumed in sales plus streaming (SPS). While “One Night” sparked a public interest in Lil Yachty, the 2016 collabs “Broccoli” with DRAM and “iSpy” with Kyle Harvey were the songs that shot Lil Yachty to fame.

The former peaked at number five on the Hot 100 chart and went on to be certified 7x Platinum for

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over seven million units SPS, while the latter peaked at number four and was certified 6x Platinum for over six million units SPS. On top of its commercial success, “Broccoli” also gained critical acclaim and notched a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Collaboration. “Although I’m not that much into the rap and trap scenario, I can recognize ‘Broccoli’ when it plays because that song was everywhere,” Brandon Kimmel (sophomore, nursing) said. “I’ll most likely go to the concert because of my girlfriend, so it will be nice to go knowing that I’m familiar with at least one song.” While Lil Yachty is the main attraction of the night, he will not be the only one performing. On top of announcing him as the headliner, STATIC also confirmed the Pittsburgh-based duo, Social House, as the concert openers. Notorious for their collab with Ariana Grande in their 2019 single “Boyfriend,” Social House might have a short discography

of only five singles, but that does not mean that they are newbies to the music industry. Prior to their own debut, the duo gained experience writing hits for other celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez and Korean pop mega group NCT 127. Out of the songs produced by the duo, the most notorious might be the number one smash hit “7 Rings,” which in 2020 notched a nomination for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards, marking it their first nomination for a “big four” category. In the same edition, the duo was also nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with “Boyfriend.” Whether you attend for the headliner, for the opening duo or for the sake of having a good time, the 2021 Homecoming event looks very promising. Tickets are for sale at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex for $22 if you have your I-CARD and for $42 for the general public.

Culture

The Penn’s Student Tattoo Profile (Contributed by Kendall Gomez) Gomez got her tattoo while studying abroad in Costa Rica over the summer.

September 3, 2021

Tattoo Profile EVA TILLICH Managing Editor jxsbc@iup.edu The student tattoo profile will be a piece to highlight the meanings behind tattoos that students get.

Q: Why did you get your tattoo? A: “I got my tattoo because I was studying abroad in Costa Rica and my friend’s host brother would always say ‘qué lindo’ if we did anything stupid, and my friends and I wanted to celebrate our friendship as a group and the memory we made while abroad.”

Q: What does “qué lindo” mean?

A: “It means ‘how lovely.’”

Q: When did you get the tattoo? A: “I got it in late July.”

Q: Where did you get your tattoo? A: “I got my tattoo at a place called Stattoos in San José, Costa Rica.”

Q: Who did you get the matching tattoos with? A: “I got it with two of my friends who I met in Costa Rica.”

Q: Do you regret your tattoo? A: “I do not regret my tattoo at all. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of the best experience of my life.”

Kendall Gomez (sophomore, Spanish/political science)

September 3, 2021

Culture

(The Penn Archives) Weyandt Hall is the location that the new classes will be held until Kopchick Hall is completed.

New program revealed

IUP unveils classes centered around aliens, space exploration

The Crimson Hoax EVA TILLICH Managing Editor jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The Crimson Hoax is a weekly column detailing satirical stories from the IUP community. The existence of aliens has been a debate for centuries, and a new program at IUP will attempt to prove that aliens are, in fact, real. The program titled “Explorations of Space and Interstellar Beings” will be introduced next year as a part of IUP’s push toward increasing STEM programs and courses. It will cover black holes, galaxies beyond the Milky Way and alien life. The classes for this program will be in Weyandt Hall but relocated to Kopchick Hall once its construction is completed. “Aliens are real, and I think it is our job to find out more about them,” Dana Scully (freshman, geoscience) said. “I am super excited about this program and am considering switching my major to this.” This program has stirred up a lot of excitement among students

ever since the recent UFO experience and abduction that occurred in Oak Grove. “Ever since my personal experience with aliens and after witnessing an abduction, I think this program is a necessity,” Matt Smith (junior, Earth and space science education) said. “There are___ so many crazy things about space that we don’t understand. I had no idea that UFOs looked like limos. I think that is something that everyone should know. Also, apparently Jimmy Stewart is still alive but there is no way that is possible unless he is some kind of alien.” Students that are a part of this program will not only study and read about interstellar beings and space, but they will also participate in labs and conduct research projects. A team of researchers from York-Indiana-Kutztown-Erie Statistical Institute (Y.I.K.E.S. Institute), that have been studying the recent alien encounter at IUP, will be partnering with the program. The research team found extraterrestrial remains at the site in the Oak Grove and will be bringing them into the lab to run tests with students in the program. The project is called Interstellar Indiana.

“This collaboration is going to be monumental,” Isa Joek, director of Y.I.K.E.S Institute and head researcher of the Interstellar Indiana project, said. “We have big plans and high ambitions.” Joek also mentioned about a “secret” donor from Indiana who is also supporting the new program through a very generous donation. Joek said that the donor’s identity cannot be revealed to the public because he prefers “to be heard but not seen,” but that they can reveal that he lives “around Philly Street.” While this has not been confirmed yet, there have been rumors that both IUP and the Y.I.K.E.S. Institute want to use this program as a steppingstone in replacing NASA as the official spatial exploration agency in the United States. IUP has not yet commented on the issue; however, it is known that Elon Musk has demonstrated interest in joining the partnership. The rumors say that Musk himself might become a professor in said program. If you are interested in joining the program or learning more about interstellar beings, spots for students will begin to be available starting this spring semester.

(The Penn/Nick Schmidt) The new programs will feature proof of alien existence for students to study.

Culture

September 3, 2021

Restaurant that gives the best of both worlds Discover good food, baked goods at new Indiana restaurant LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP If you are a fan of baked goods and fresh pizza, then there is a restaurant you have to visit. In June , Andrew Frassenei and Eden McCracken opened Eden’s Bakery and Gladys’ Pizzeria. Located at 990 Oakland Ave., the restaurant is committed to making homemade goods to serve the local community, and that includes IUP students. “I love helping and serving college students,” McCracken said. “We do have a group of regular students, which is really awesome. We’re slowly getting to know them.” McCracken went on to say that, apart from the smaller groups of students that enter the shop, there have not been many other groups that go in. Despite this fact, the location that the restaurant is found in suits a college town. Location is very important to any business. Located right beside Stright and Uhler Hall, sitting across the street from Weyandt Hall and the Oak Grove, the area the shop is in works out to be convenient, especially if you are leaving a class in one of the buildings and need a quick bite to eat. Despite its ideal location, there still have not been many students that go in. “I think we still have yet to be discovered by them,” McCracken said. “We don’t really have the best signage, but the kids who do come in seem to really enjoy it.” Enjoying the food is a staple of any good restaurant, and at Eden’s Bakery and Gladys’ Pizzeria this is no different. With a wide range of homemade food options ranging from assorted baked goods all the way to different pizzas, there is a lot that the restaurant has to offer. As stated by McCracken, there is a very large variety in the foods that you can order. In the bakery section alone, you can get cookies, cakes, various breads, pastries and miscellaneous desserts, and other treats available. In the pizzeria area, there are the standard mainstays of a pizza place with the addition of the weekly special. With that in place, there is always something new and interesting to try as well as many classic mainstays to enjoy. “The cinnamon rolls and the

raspberry scones on the bakery side are definitely my favorites,” McCracken said, ”and also the most popular.” McCracken went on to recommend the white garlic pizza, saying that it is her personal favorite and that she has to try not to eat it every day. If you are not a fan of garlic, then the garlic pizza is likely not for you, but maybe the traditional pepperoni is of interest instead. Or maybe you would more enjoy a nice baked good after a long day. No matter what you are looking for, the menu for Eden’s Bakery and Gladys’ Pizzeria will be ready to help satisfy your hunger. So, if you are interested in baked goods or maybe a slice of pizza for the road, stop by Eden’s Bakery and Gladys’ Pizza, or visit its website, https://ebgpbakeryandpizzeria.com, or follow the business on Facebook and Instagram to view the menu and see all that the shop has to offer. Let McCracken and Frassenei know that The Penn sent you their way.

(The Penn/Nick Schmidt) Established in 2021 by Eden McCracken and Andrew Frassenei, Eden’s Bakery and Gladys’ Pizzeria have been a hit with people who have entered the establishment.

(The Penn/Nick Schmidt) Among the many things offered in the bakery section, the raspberry scones and cinnamon rolls are the most popular choices for those that stop by.

September 3, 2021

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Culture

September 3, 2021

Tragedy in the south

Students share thoughts on Hurricane Ida LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP With Hurricane Ida and the subsequent storms ravaging the south and eastern United States, students at IUP have been experiencing the fallout. Hurricane Ida first made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday as a category four hurricane. After sweeping through the southern states, the storm remnants started spreading up the east coast, causing intense rain and winds. “I’m from Pittsburgh,” Olivia Wanat (sophomore, history) said. “The weather seems to have been nearly as intense as it has been in Indiana from what my family says.” Wanat continued by saying that, despite the tough times people on the east are experiencing, the situation in the south is significantly worse. Wanat also said that her family has been dealing with property damage and flooding in their house. With Louisiana in mind, a lot of people have been dealing with the

aftermath of the hurricane in their own communities. While things may be better in Pennsylvania than it is in Louisiana, people are still dealing with the effects. For example, regions closer to central Pennsylvania are being hit with major flooding. Nevertheless, the situation in Louisiana has been getting worse by the day. “The effects of the storm in Louisiana are devastating,” Gabrielle Probst (sophomore, early childhood education) said. Probst went on to say that while the storms have been bad at IUP, she thinks that it is nothing compared to the issue in the south. According to Probst, the worst thing students have to worry about is getting caught in the rain which is nothing compared to how Louisiana and other areas in the deep south are being affected. With large swaths of power outages spreading from Louisiana into parts of Mississippi and flash flooding being priority concerns for states on the coast, the effects of Ida are long from being over. “The storming and bad conditions are probably going to be

(Facebook/NASA) People have reported downed trees, power lines and even alligators in the waters of Louisiana as people try to stay safe and get picked up by the rescue teams. showing their effects for a while into the future,” Gabrielle Allison (sophomore, anthropology) said. “It has all been hitting really hard.” Allison went on to specify that, with the hard winds and rain causing trees to fall and flash flooding to occur, it will take time for things to even be in a state of being rebuilt, much less returning to normal. This is due to so much going wrong all at the same time, leading to the perfect storm of long-lasting repercussions and negative impacts of Hurricane Ida. Even if your area has not been negatively impacted by the tropical storm, the best way to offer help is to donate to organizations like the Red Cross that will be working in areas, like Louisiana, that have been hit hard, as well as looking into other organizations that will be helping the teams rescuing people in the flooded towns and cities. It is a dangerous situation, so

(The Penn/Lane Lannan) Even in places like central Pennsylvania, the flooding has been intense and dangerous. it is important to band together and help in whatever way possible. Even if that is just by spreading awareness of the issue to others, it

can help to ensure a speedy recovery of the infrastructure in Louisiana and other areas that dealt with stronger effects.

(Facebook) The hurricane resulted in many casualties and the after-effects of severe infrastructure damage.

Sports

Sports Editor: Austin Smith – A.S.Smith7@iup.edu

Hawks start season with home opener win ‘I want to share that commitment to doing what it takes to win for the players’ AUSTIN SMITH Sports Editor A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The Crimson Hawks volleyball team settled in its nest at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on Thursday for a matchup against the Davis and Elkins Senators. When it comes to these two teams, the history goes back a little over a decade ago. Both IUP and Davis and Elkins have only squared off a total of four times in the last 11 years, and IUP showed improvement after a win with an overall 3-1 record. In the first set, the team found itself down early on by a score of 25-19, and later managed to get back in the driver seat in the last three sets to take the 3-1 match win. “After the first set, we made some changes on the pins and got great performances from the players. We have a lot of depth in those spots,” head coach Julie Torbett said. In the second set, Torbett and her squad came out with a 25-22 win and IUP had a total of ten kills during that winning set. Nicole Peterson (junior, sports administration), Caroline Walsh (junior, nutrition and dietetics) and Ali St. Rose (sophomore, marketing) led IUP the entire game, bringing a powerful front for the team. Both Leah Henderson (junior, sports administration) and Peterson were significant contributors going back freshman year. “Leah and Nicole are great competitors. They have a lot of pressure on them to perform,” Torbett said. In the third set, IUP came out

with a victory by a score of 27-25. The Hawks had a total of 17 kills in the third set which was the most in the entire game out of any of the sets. When it comes to the volleyball world, you really have to utilize all of your players as evenly as possible to make sure your rotation is as strong as possible throughout the four sets. “I thought Lexi Hraga (senior, natural science/pre-physician assistant) did a great job off the bench as well as Ali St.Rose,” Torbett said. The fourth and final set for IUP was the largest victory margin for the Hawks out of the other three sets as they tallied the win by a score of 25-15. In set four, IUP only had four attack errors which was much better than Davis and Elkins’ eight during the set. Overall, IUP led most categories when it came to the total number of points, aces and blocks. The scores were very close in some of the categories, but the Hawks came out in the end. “I am all about the players,” Torbett said. “They didn’t win a lot in 2019 and lost a lot of five set matches. I want them to be winners in life. Winning is fun and builds confidence. I have won a lot in my career as a player at Penn State and as a coach. “I want to share that commitment to doing what it takes to win for the players.” The Hawks showed the IUP community and their fans a season preview that their season is shaping up to be a good one with the 3-1 match victory. The Hawks will look to get off to a big lead with four games in the span of two days between Friday and Saturday. IUP will play Tusculum, Ohio Dominican, Frostburg State and Shepherd University in the IUP invitational and will look to spike their way to all victories.

Gia Cannavino

(IUP Athletics) The Hawks take down Davis and Elkins in their home opener and were ecstatic with the win.

September 3, 2021

Sports

September 3, 2021

(Twitter/Track and Field) Fall season is just about underway and the first meet is right around the corner for Coach Zins and his squad who square off in the Cal-U invitational.

Zins hopeful for breakout season MATT GLOVER

Contributing Writer htpzc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The IUP men’s and women’s cross country teams are ready to fly across the finish lines this season. “Our top priority is to be ready to perform at our best for the conference and regional championships,” cross country and track and field head coach Joey Zins said. “We need to stay healthy and maintain our focus toward running well late in the season.” Players have been training all summer and are eager to get started. “Coach Zins takes the time to individualize training for everyone,” Evan Weaver (senior, natural science/ pre-physical therapy) said. “I aimed to be consistent in my assigned runs and stretching every day to avoid injury.” Calvin Ribelin (sophomore,

chemistry), another player on the team, spent his time during the offseason building consistency to improve his race and workout times. “The biggest thing we work on during the summer is our aerobic base,” Zins said. “We start off with very low mileage, and by the start of our camp week most of the athletes are at or near their peak mileage for the season.” After only a couple weeks of practice, Zins is optimistic about his veteran runners and their training results. “I think we have a lot of candidates for a breakout season,” Zins said. “On the women’s side, Layla Smith (sophomore, athletic training) was hurt for our spring season but had a great summer of training and is poised to help add depth during her first college action.” The men’s team also has candidates to watch closely. “Evan Weaver has a chance to build off his spring cross country

and track seasons,” Zins said. “Although he was one of our top runners last season, I think he may still be off people’s radars when looking at contenders for AllPSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) and/or All-Region teams this fall.” Zins and his players are also impressed with the freshmen even before their first run. “Our freshman class can really bring a lot to both teams,” Zins said. “Half our women’s team is in their first year, and while they lack experience, our depth will be immediately improved, and a few of them may make strong impacts right away.” “The men’s freshman group also has a lot of talent that raises our

team’s ceiling,” he said. “Kendall Branan (freshman, history) is another newcomer to watch after a standout career at Indiana Area High School.” “I’ve been impressed with how the freshmen have professionally approached the first couple weeks of practice and seamlessly fit into our culture,” Weaver said. “They may be new to IUP, but they’re very quickly making a positive impact and pushing the team to be better.” Positive impacts have been felt all around as the team continues to practice and connect with each other. “Our biggest improvement has been how much we’ve bonded,” Ribelin said. “That’s going to make us a better team because we can support each other on a

personal level.” Having that support will improve our confidence and show in our results, he said. The teams are also excited to compete against old and new faces as they strive to beat their March fourth-place finish. “I’m thrilled to race against our former captain Sam Lenze, who is now at Duquesne (University),” Weaver said. “He played a huge role in making IUP cross country what it is today, and I’m excited to show him we’re continuing the legacy he helped set.” Ribelin is waiting for his chance to compete against Shippensburg University. “[Shippensburg] has a well-developed team with a lot of depth, but I think we can hold our own,” Ribelin said. Before Shippensburg, the Crimson Hawks will first run against the Vulcans Sept. 4 at California University of Pennsylvania in the first invitational of the season.

September 3, 2021

Sports

September 3, 2021

Hawks lock their eyes on West Virgina BEN SPRIGGS

Contributing Writer dzbbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

(IUP Athletics) The Crimson Hawks are just days away from their first matchup against West Virgina Wesleyan.

This is a very exciting week for the IUP women’s soccer program. After almost two full years of not playing a game due to COVID-19, the Crimson Hawks will be back on the field. The team will play the West Virginia Wesleyan College Bobcats in a non-conference matchup. The game will take place at South Campus Field on Sunday at 2 p.m. Wesleyan will face Slippery Rock on Thursday afternoon, three days prior to traveling to IUP. The opponent head coach, Adel Heder shared some thoughts on the Bobcats. “Wesleyan always has a good soccer program,” Heder said. As Sunday afternoon quickly approaches, the Crimson Hawks are continuing to prepare and sharpen their skills. Heder elaborates on what he is looking for out of his team in game one. “I'm looking forward to my team, a young team, working hard in this first game,” Heder said, “trying to fit the players in the right positions and hopefully we show a good game and build pace, confidence and motivation for the season.” Considering this is a non-conference game against an out-ofstate team, let us take a deeper look at the Crimson Hawks’ first opponent. The Bobcats play in the Mountain East Conference (MEC). Their 2020 fall season, like IUP, was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. The big difference is that the MEC elected to play a spring 2021 season to make up for its cancelled fall 2020 season. This past spring, Wesleyan went 4-3-2 overall including a first round exit loss to Notre Dame

from Ohio in the MEC tournament. Just a few months later, the team now returns to the field to play IUP. They are led by head coach Richard Owens, who is entering his fourth year at the helm. Wesleyan will have to look to others for leadership. As Team captain Kayla Fay graduated in the spring. Fay led the team in minutes played and game winning goals last season. The Bobcats have an even balance of freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors comprising their roster. The team is also returning some notable players. Defender Lauran Baumgartner is back. She logged over 816 minutes in nine games last season and has also been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) 2021 Academic All-District team. Starting goaltender Ally Moore is also returning. Moore started in all nine games last season as a freshman and was named to the MEC All-Freshman team. Many seniors return for their final season and bring experience. The following players started all nine games this past spring for Wesleyan. Those returning starters for the Bobcats include defenseman Jadyn Tavekellan, forward Makatly Tucker and defenseman Natalie Pireu. The makeup of the Bobcats’ roster points to this being an interesting and entertaining game. The young and talented women’s Crimson Hawks soccer team, led by Heder, is ready for the matchup and excited to begin its season. Sunday 2 p.m. at South Campus Field is shaping up to be an exciting afternoon. The campus and community are ready for the return of women’s soccer and will be rooting for their team as they open the 2021 season of play with lots of talent.

September 3, 2021

Sports

Hawks announce non-conference schedule By IUP Sports Information The IUP men's basketball program has announced its return to the court with the release of its 2021-22 non-conference schedule Tuesday afternoon. The Crimson Hawks have a total of seven out-of-conference games prior to the start of their mandated Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule, including an exhibition matchup at the University of Illinois. That game is scheduled for Oct. 29 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois Coach Joe Lombardi annually challenges his team with top Division I opponents for exhibition games. IUP most recently played at Elon and also challenged No. 2 Kentucky prior to the 2018-19 season. The Hawks have also played at Villanova, Syracuse, Michigan State, Maryland, Pitt, Florida State, South Florida, Siena and La Salle in past seasons. IUP opens the regular season with four games in eight nights, starting with the annual IRMC/ Hilton Garden Inn Classic on November 12-13 at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. The Crimson Hawks will host West Virginia Wesleyan and Concord, both out of the Mountain East Conference, on successive nights. The Hawks will host Le Moyne, a traditional power from the North-

east-10 Conference and the East Region, on Nov.13 before traveling to Maryland to square off against Bowie State on Nov.19. The non-conference slate wraps up during the final weekend of November with the IUP Thanksgiving Classic. IUP will host Salem and a team-to-be-named from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. IUP's PSAC schedule begins the first weekend of December with a trip to play Kutztown and West Chester. The entire 2021-22 schedule can be found here. The Crimson Hawks look forward to their return after missing the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hawks managed a schedule of three games, falling to Gannon on the road 80-75 before defeating the Golden Knights at home 67-56 and rallying for a 77-74 win over Clarion at home. IUP opened the year at No. 4 in the National Association Basketball Coaches’ poll, the program's 12th straight year in the coaches' preseason rankings. IUP returns five players with starting experience from the 2020 PSAC Championship team, including preseason All-American Armoni Foster (redshirt junior, criminal justice) and 2020 PSAC West Freshman of the Year Ethan Portherfield (sophomore, criminal justice) .

IUP will have time to get ready for the PSAC portion of their schedule that starts in December.

(IUP Athletics)