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STUDENTS SUPPORT FACULTY, STAFF OVER RETRENCHMENT

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Map as of Wednesday at 3 a.m.

Presidency comes down to battleground states What each candidate needs to win election

Steven Langdon Jr

Editor-in-Chief

S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Numbers as of Wednesday at 3 a.m. Percentage of votes left based off the Associated Press.

Election Day 2020 ended as many have said for weeks, without a clear winner. What it comes down to now are battleground states, which include: Arizona, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Currently the electoral map is 220-213 in favor of Joe Biden.

This does not mean much, as 105 electoral votes are still at large.

With each candidate needing to get to 270, how does one win the presidency?

Before going through the scenarios, North Carolina is currently 94 percent through counting votes, and leans Republican, so the 15 electoral votes will go to President Donald Trump.

That leads to a 231-225 advantage to Republicans. It also means 83 votes are at large.

States at large The battleground states above

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are the ones that are considered “at large.” Most of the states have been hotly contested in the last two elections Maine is the only state that is expected to go one way: Democrat. The question is what way will the districts vote.

It is one of two states where this will happen, the other being Nebraska Each state has split votes, with the winner getting two electoral votes, and each district winner getting one vote.

For example, Trump won the state of Nebraska and two of the three districts. Therefore, he wins four of the five votes, and Biden wins the last one.

Arizona is leaning Democrat and is a state Biden needs. It has 11 electoral votes and would be a flip state from the last election.

Georgia became a battleground this year. After the civil unrest in Atlanta, voters came out in droves.

It will be interesting to see what way it goes.

Michigan has 16 electoral votes and is currently leaning Trump. All focus is on Wayne County, where Detroit is located.

Nevada went Democrat last election and is currently leaning toward the same. It has six electoral votes.

Pennsylvania has been the biggest surprise, with 1.4 million mail-in votes not counted yet.

Although Trump is heavily in front, there are reports of heavy Democrat votes in that 1.4 million. That is just a rumor.

Finally is Wisconsin, which has 10 electoral votes. This might be the state that decides it, but that will be explained later.

It currently has counted 93 percent of the vote. Wisconsin, like many states, is coming down to mail-in votes to the cities.

Trump’s road to 270 Incumbent President Trump has the easier path to 270. He needs 39 more votes based off the 231 to be reelected.

Trump is currently up about 117,000 votes in Georgia. If he wins the state, that will get his total to 247. Trump would then need to win two of the three from the “Blue Wall.” Those states are Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

There is still a scenario where Trump loses Georgia and still wins.

He would then have to win somewhere like Arizona or win all three states in the “Blue Wall.”

It seems as though if Trump

November 4, 2020

wins Arizona or Nevada, two states currently leaning blue, then his road to 270 becomes a lot easier. He is looking at the map now, and although he wants to declare victory, it is still too close to call because of the mailin ballots.

Biden’s road to 270 The former vice president was not able to have the dream day he hoped for. At one point, Florida and Texas were competitive. They both went red. There was a list of states that could have flipped, but none have yet.

Biden took a lead in some states due to early voting. The same thing that became an enemy of sorts in the beginning is now what he needs to win.

The easiest path is to win Arizona, Georgia and Nevada. Georgia would be a huge victory and would be the first time since 1992 to go blue.

Biden would then have to win Michigan, Pennsylvania or some combination of Wisconsin and somewhere like Maine. That would put him right near the 270 mark.

He could also win by not winning Georgia or Pennsylvania.

Biden would have to win Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin. That again would put him right near the 270 mark.

It is clear that there is not an easy way for Biden to win without getting certain states. It is crucial that he gets Arizona and Nevada before anything else.

When will we know Signs point to an outcome by the end of Thursday. Most of the votes are counted and the only state that may go past Thursday is Pennsylvania.

They still have over a million votes, and with the process of making sure the ballots are done properly, it is expected they will be the last to report.

Current signs point to the reelection of President Trump, but with all the different ways of voting during COVID-19 times, anything is possible. States went from one candidate being up by 100,000 plus to being down 300,000 in a matter of hours.

The best thing to do is be patient. No matter who wins, it is a win for the American voice. Over 100 million people voted, and that is something each person who voted should be proud of.

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November 4, 2020

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Faculty, students protest against retrenchment (Marty Weaver/The Penn)

(Alexis Loya/The Penn)

(Alexis Loya/The Penn)

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(Marty Weaver/The Penn)

Oct. 28 and 29, a protest was held in front of IUP’s Patrick J. Stapleton Library over IUP’s retrenchment and restructuring plans for the 2021 year. Professors and students alike spoke at the rally about their frustrations over IUP’s plans. Signs and banners were held by students and professors for the two days.

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Students support faculty, staff over retrenchment ALEXIS LOYA Copy Editor zphw@iup.edu @ThePennIUP RACHEL FOOR Staff Writer myjv@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) hosted a rally against retrenchment Wednesday 12 to 2 p.m. and Thursday 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Oak Grove.

Over 100 students and several faculty members, who later received notice Friday that they will be terminated effective at the end of spring semester, took a stand against the retrenchment of roughly 130 tenured and tenured-track faculty (25 percent of total faculty) as well as non-faculty staff. In addition, they stood against the consolidation of the College of Fine Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences since “IUP: NextGen” will be STEMbased.

The wall between the library’s staircase was lined with signs attached to rulers that was part of APSCUF’s virtual sign-making event Oct. 20.

Around 60 attendees of the virtual event came up with ideas for phrases to put on posters while others created memes to share on social media.

There was a total of 128 standing rulers set in concrete, one for every faculty member being cut. The rulers were decorated by participants with various items like leaves and included phrases such as “We all fall without teachers,” and “A rising tide at IUP… sinks many boats.”

At the rally, both the faculty and students had a chance to voice their opinions standing over the crowd in the cold and rain, and many came prepared with signs that read “#ShameOnIUP,” “Faculty Matter,” “How Will You Grow if They Go?” and “The Show Must Go On With or Without IUP,” among others.

Of the departments being cut, journalism and public relations is one experiencing hardship.

(Alexis Loya/The Penn) Students appeared despite cold and rain to show support.

At Thursday’s rally, Associate Professor and Chairwoman of the Journalism and Public Relations Department Dr. Michele Papakie said, “How can they possibly be cutting a department that graduated five Pulitzer Prize winners?”

These alumni include Alysia Burton Steele, class of ’97; Paula Reed Ward, class of ’96; Doug List, class of ’87; Susan Snyder, class of ’85; and Madelyn Ross, class of ’71.

“I am absolutely disgusted by IUP’s decision to move journalism and public relations to communications media, but fire all five of its faculty,” she said in an interview. “Communications media is suffering retrenchment as well, so now eight faculty will be required to reach our curriculum as well as theirs, which is impossible.”

She said that Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Dan Greenstein is insisting on a 20:1 student-faculty ratio, but this move will create a 50:1 student-faculty ratio.

“Our students deserve better than this.”

Last spring, IUP’s Institutional Success Through Program Innovation Redesign and Evolution (INSPIRE) initiative made plans to merge journalism and with communications media, which was approved as a program redesign.

“Under this plan,” Papakie said, “we would have 14 faculty teaching 327 students, which is still a 23:3:1 student-faculty ratio – higher than what the chancellor is seeking.”

She said it’s important to note that the combined departments’ enrollment reflects a 30 percent non-white student population, which is 3 percent higher than IUP’s overall non-white population.

“I understand that difficult decisions must be made right now to ensure the stability of IUP,” she said.

“What I don’t understand is that the

university keeps talking about how ‘we’ are in this together, and how ‘we’ are coming up with solutions together, collaboratively.

“I assure you, from where I sit in the journalism and public relations department and as the secretary for state APSCUF, ‘we’ are not.”

Professors from other departments were asked to give their input, but they do not wish to answer at this time.

From a student perspective, Tyler Miller (junior, Spanish education K-12 and theatre) will also be affected by these changes. He attended the rally to show his admiration, love and support to the professors who have helped guide him in the right direction and shape him into who he is today.

“I am completely heartbroken,” he said. “It’s a naive and short-sighted attempt to lower costs.”

He brought up that faculty and staff are being laid off in one of the most economically challenging times we, as a nation, have faced.

“It’s proof that IUP is neither student-centered or a family, but it

is obsessed with looking financially fiscal and prosperous in the present without regard to the benefits of investment in the education system.

What student-centered university rips the support and knowledge of 128 faculty from their students?”

As a double major in Spanish education K-12 and theatre, retrenchment has “extended its grip on both of these programs” for Miller. He said IUP has modified his Spanish education degree to a certificate in Spanish with a certificate in education.

“It’s outrageous to me that the Spanish Ed K-12 program at IUP has received national accreditation three times,” he said. “However, this does not seem to matter anymore to the newly STEM-focused school IUP is failing to become.”

Additionally, he said the theatre and dance program has been “stripped to the bare minimum.”

“IUP is where we Hawks come to find our success,” he said. “You are clipping our wings by depriving us the arts and humanities.”

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November 4, 2020

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(Case Marshall/The Penn) The Eberly College of Business and Information Technology on IUP’s campus.

IUP graduates gift will impact future students ALEXUS MILLER Contributing Writer tkbx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

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Two IUP graduates donated $31,000 to help students studying in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology.

Managing partner with Price Waterhouse Dan Simoni (1994, accounting) and Michelle Costanza Simoni (1995, sociology) have added funds to the Wayne Norman Simoni Scholarship and have allocated funds for the new Mary Louise Costanza Scholarship.

The couple established the Wayne Norman Simoni scholarship in honor of Dan’s late father and the Mary Louise Costanza scholarship in honor of Michelle’s late mother.

“We are honored to be able to help current and future students while honoring and remembering my father and Michelle’s mother,” Dan said.

“We appreciate Mr. and Mrs. Simoni’s generosity,” IUP Vice President for University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna said.

“This gift will impact the future of hundreds of students.”

The Eberly College of Business and Information Technology has been accredited by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the premier business school accrediting body worldwide, since 2001. Annually, close to 500 students complete degrees in more than 20 majors in programs offered from undergraduate to doctorate of philosophy levels.

“Without a doubt, IUP made my career possible,” Simoni said. “We have been blessed with a great education that allowed us to have wonderful careers.”

The impact scholarships have on students continue to be important.

Any way that students can pay off college debt is helpful to them.

The Simoni’s gift will help future students, especially during this time.

“Scholarship support at all levels continues to make a true difference in the lives of our students,” Osseiran-Hanna said. “IUP alumni and friends are passionate in their support of this university and especially our students.”

The Simoni’s gift is part of IUP’s $75 million Imagine Unlimited Campaign, which will help IUP step forward as a “national leader” by reshaping the student experience through scholarships, program enhancements, and new and modernized facilities.

“We’ll enable our students to pursue their passions, enabling them to reach their full potential,” Bill Madia, campaign cochair, said.

“This campaign is, indeed, about preparing our students to be great thinkers, great decision makers and great people.”

The campaign has reached over $73 million so far. With the Simoni’s help and others, they are getting closer and closer.

IUP is a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education with the largest percentage of international students across the 14 state schools. This statistic brings benefits to all the University’s students such as being exposed to a variety of cultures that will create the “best-prepared” leaders of the future, according to IUP’s website.

For more information about the campaign and the Simoni’s gift, along with others who have donated, students can visit www.iup.edu under the Imagine Unlimited tab or by going to www.iup.edu/imagine-unlimited/.

November 4, 2020

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(The Penn Archives)

Michelle Fryling, executive director of media relations, spoke on behalf of the school.

For everything, there is a reason

IUP spokesperson explains reasoning behind upcoming 2021 changes EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Changes have to be made in order to assure student growth and development at IUP, university officials say.

In the past two weeks, IUP has seen many changes. In a video released Oct. 14, President Michael Driscoll announced the IUP: NextGen plan. This included program changes and cuts in faculty.

Students, staff and alumni have all been outspoken in their reactions to the news. In the past week, there have been a number of rallies on campus.

Social media has also seen a spike in negativity regarding IUP, including the hashtag and website #ShameOnIUP. On behalf of the school, Executive Director of Media Relations Michelle Fryling explained some of the reasonings behind the planning, and why it was an important choice for the school to make.

The programs that were cut came down to a few factors including student enrollment, according to Fryling.

“What we really looked at was student demand, market demand and financial demand,” she said.

“There were a couple programs that had no students whatsoever.”

These programs include a few tracts in fine arts and majors such as adult and community education.

One of the biggest “sore spots” for students was the merging between the College of Fine Arts and the College of Humanities and

Social Sciences.

Fryling said there was no need to be worried over the situation, as it would make different programs stronger in the end.

“We are not cutting the arts or the humanities. We are blending them to make a better blending of disciplines.”

Another question that arose from the plan was IUP’s focus on STEM programs. Fryling said this decision came down to what the school thought its areas of focus should be.

“That was determined by student preference, the marketplace and the potential for growth in those disciplines in terms of our graduates,” she said. “Those programs were the most economically viable.”

But students outside of these programs are just as important to IUP, Fryling said.

“That doesn’t mean if you’re not in that area of focus that we don’t think your program is important.

But when you’re setting some goals and setting some strategies, you’re creating that bigger picture.”

Fryling said it was also important to remember that IUP’s plan was a vision for what the school saw now.

“Discussions are going to continue throughout the next academic year.”

In response to the rallies, there is no anger. Fryling said that the voices of the community were important to IUP. Fryling called it “an incredible thing.”

“The passion, the energy and the love shows we are doing something right. We are changing lives.”

Driscoll, who released anoth-

er video Oct. 28 to explain more about IUP: NextGen after backlash occurred, has not been ignoring the opinions either. According to Fryling, he has read every email sent to him. These letters have been answered by Fryling and administration.

“We have seen that in the things they are telling us, but what we are seeing from our alumni is that IUP has made such an impact,” she said.

The rallies were not done only because of program changes, however. They were also done in response to faculty retrenchment, which would see a cut of approximately 130 members.

Out of this number, 81 tenured or tenure tracked professors learned of the possible end of their position Friday.

The highest percent of cuts was in academic affairs which saw a 42 percent cut. The lowest was in the College of Health and Human Services with a change of four percent.

This news should not have been a surprise, however.

“It feels sudden, but believe me, for the past two years, Driscoll has been very upfront,” Fryling said.

Faculty are not the only ones being cut. Fryling said there are also 60 non-faculty members that will be laid off for the next school year.

Since 2019, a total of 111 non-faculty members have been laid off.

According to Fryling, these cuts will be better financially on students. By keeping them intact, enrollment would potentially cost more in the future. With a 33 percent change in enrollment, it was “necessary for the school.”

“We regret this too, but we need to be financially stable,” she said.

“We can no longer take our budget shortfalls and put them onto our students.”

She said that IUP had tried other tactics, such as not over-hiring and budget cuts, but changes still needed to be made.

“If we had another choice, we would make it so.”

On behalf of the school, Fryling

said that everyone will continue to keep their communications up and continue to help students adapt.

She said she did not know if there would be more cuts in the future, but that IUP was going to continue to do its best for its students.

“We have to be here,” Fryling said. “We have to do something now. We have to make sure we have an IUP for the future.”

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November 4, 2020

News

International students not allowed to vote, express frustration MARIAMA MANSARAY Staff Writer mbpbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP International students at IUP believe it is “unfair” they are not allowed cast to vote, since every decision made by the government will undoubtedly affect them.

“I believe we should be able to vote because whatever decision that’s going to be taken by the government will affect us,” Ebenezer Osei (graduate, instructional design and technology) said.

Osei has lived in the U.S. for one year. Though he loves it here, he stated that he feels “like he is being” treated unfairly because he’s not allowed to vote.

“I work and pay taxes, and I take part in the census,” he said.

“I’m doing everything citizens are doing, yet I’m not allowed to vote.

If I’m given the right to take part in both of these things, I should be given the right to have a say in the election. The right to vote.”

Emmanuel Ntow (graduate, fine arts) has these same sentiments. He has lived in the U.S. for two years,

Voting is a way of expression for many people. and like Osei, works and pay taxes.

Though he loves living in the U.S., he does not believe he has the same freedoms as citizens.

“They say America is the land of the free, but we are not free to vote,” he said.

“It also said and believed that America is not for just any one person. Immigrants came together to form America. I believe not being allowed to vote is a type of discrimination against immigrants.”

(Facebook)

Most international students like Osei and Ntow studying in the U.S. are holders of the F-1 Visa. These are non-immigrant visas that allows international students to pursue an academic program at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school or in a language training program in the U.S. Like many other problems related to immigration, the F-1 Visa comes with certain restrictions. If

they violate them, they will most likely get their visa status taken away.

The most important restriction, however, is the one on voting.

According to Osei, immigrants are not given the necessary rights in the aspect of voting. Osei said that it doesn’t matter if students are only in the U.S. for one year or four years, as long as they are counted as a member of the population in America, they should be allowed to vote.

Aderayo Oyegbade (graduate, music) from Nigeria is not happy about the restrictions on voting placed on international students by the government because it affects them in a lot of ways.

“In recent times, we’ve seen a lot of changes,” he said. “Things we didn’t expect are happening, and there’s nothing we can do because we can’t actually vote for changes.

Even trying to apply to become a citizen is getting harder by the day.

“At least if we have the right to vote, we are going to be able to vote against anybody that will not have our best interest at heart.”

America, he said, proclaims itself

to be the land of the free. In respect to that sentiment, immigrants leave their countries to come to the U.S. to pursue opportunities not afforded to them in their own countries.

Since they are here, Oyegbade said that the least the government could do is allow F-1 Visa holders to vote.

“They forget that immigrants are doing great things in this country,” he said. “We have a lot of great Nigerian doctors in this country.”

Ntow said that because he does not have the right to vote, he feels that he can’t really complain about anything going on in the country.

So, Ntow said, he’s just going with the flow of every decision made by the government, whether good or bad.

“I don’t want to get into politics, but Trump had said he was going to get immigrants to vote. He lied to us,” he said.

Currently immigrants must wait five years to apply for naturalization. After they have taken an oath, they may register to vote. This is according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Importance of diversity when it comes to voting BENJAMIN BRUMBAUGH Contributing Writer tkbx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Students at IUP came together to discuss the importance of the Black and Brown vote during a “Building Bridges” event.

The event, titled “Why My Vote Counts on Election Day – The Power of the Black and Brown Student Vote,” was hosted by the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and took place Thursday night via Zoom. Davis Kazako (junior, music education) led the discussion attended by 25 members of the IUP community.

“The most important issue for me during this election is the advancement of the Black and Brown communities,” Kazako said.

A big issue for many Black and Brown voters during this election has been the COVID-19 pandemic.

These communities, particularly the African American community, have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

“The biggest thing right now is the pandemic because it

(Facebook) Black and Brown voters have a different perspective voting than white voters do. really hasn’t been handled well,” Na’eem Allen-Stills (senior, exercise science) said.

“I have family members who have compromised immune systems, and I do not want to lose them due to something that can be avoided,” Allen-Stills said.

Due to different personal experiences and different upbringings, Black and Brown voters often have a very different perspective than white voters do. These groups

of voters often focus on differing issues during elections.

Since the 1960s, most Black and Brown voters have been Democrats, and their votes typically reflect this affiliation. Eighty-eight percent of African Americans voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, and 65 percent of Latinx voters did the same.

“I believe that we’re taught very early to follow the Democratic par-

ty and to walk along those guidelines,” Stanley Rogers (senior, communications media) said.

Many voters at the discussion stated that the current administration has created a divisive environment in our country. Not only that, but they also stated that a common theme during this presidential election has been “vote for the lesser of two evils.”

“I want to see a president who can bridge the gap between the minority groups and the majority groups,” Rogers said. “I would like to see steps toward not just being equal, but understanding each other.”

The students believe that politicians, once voted into office, do not implement the changes that they promised during their campaign.

“That’s what happens with complacency is that we vote these people in and assume they will do what they said they were going to do, and we back off,” Kazako said. “If we keep backing off, it allows that person to continue taking advantage of the Black and Brown vote.”

“I think oftentimes, we have a lot of strong opinions,” Donovan Daniel, an undergraduate admission counselor, said. “We will connect those to a certain candidate, but we don’t often follow-up after the election to hold our candidates accountable.”

But, according to Kazako, voting is the first step. Then, “after that, the next four years is the constant reminder that this is what you said you were going to do.”

Another issue that the students considered to be important in this election is the age of the candidates. They stated the age of the candidates play a big role in this election because both candidates are elderly.

“I definitely feel like we need to use our right to vote as young people to nominate younger candidates that aren’t so detached from reality,” Allen-Stills said.

“We have two candidates who are 70 years old, pushing 80, so they’re definitely out of touch with the average American, which is 35 years old.”

News

November 4, 2020

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Opinion

Reversing Roe vs. Wade will not bring an end to abortions With tension rising, Roe v. Wade has become a trivial topic of 2020.

As a woman, I believe Roe v.

Wade is important now and will be important 20 years from now. The history to why this law was enacted into place is important when forming opinions over the matter.

This landmark law was set into place Jan. 22, 1973. It created women’s rights to a safe and legal abortion in the U.S. Though, this law has been controversial since it was established.

Before any laws were set into place regarding abortion, doctors in the 1850s prescribed women dangerous drugs in effort to induce abortions. This will likely be a woman’s reality again if Roe v.

Wade is reversed.

If safe and legal abortions are taken away, this will not stop abortion. This will only start a dark and deadly trend of black-market abortions.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, through the 1950s and 60s, the estimated number of illegal abortions in the U.S. ranged from 200,000 to 1.2 million per year.

After Jan. 22, 1972, Justice Harry Blackmun declared that a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment.

Roe v. Wade shouldn’t be looked at as just abortions. It is health care designed for women

(Wikimedia/All.org) Roe vs. Wade, decided in 1973, allows pregnant women the right to an abortion without excessive government restriction. Today, safe abortion could be in jeopardy due to the appointment of elected officials. exercising their right to choose their best option. When thinking about how dangerous illegal abortion is, it’s important to recognize that illegal abortion made up to 1/6 of pregnancy related deaths.

Access to legal abortions has become one of the safest medical procedures in the U.S. You can thank Roe v. Wade for that.

According to Planned Parenthood, by overturning this law, this will put more than 25 million women at risk of losing access to abortion. This includes more than 4.3 million Hispanic or Latina women, 3.5 million black women,

800,000 Asian women and nearly 300,000 American Indian or Alaska Native women.

Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme court might as well be the end to the safe abortion action that women have now. Their opinions regarding abortion is a danger to women.

Roe v. Wade reflects the American ideals of being able to make your own choice. Nothing is more American than having peace-of-mind that your country will respect your wishes regarding your health. Taking away women’s

rights is un-American.

It is in danger now, and there is a real possibility that Roe v. Wade could be overturned.

If Roe v. Wade is eliminated, states would be allowed to criminalize abortion. That decision right there will allow countless women to find other means of abortion, often dangerous and fatal.

Roe v. Wade is pro-woman. This law gives women the right to make decisions for themselves, for their safety. Taking this away will put the lives of many women in danger.

It’s important to remember the facts and the lives that will be

endangered when electing officials into office who will strip women of their 14th Amendment right to privacy.

The Guttmacher Institute says that nearly one in four women in America will have an abortion in their lifetime. Think about women this and every election season.

We matter, and our rights matter, too.

Brought to you by: The Penn Staff

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November 4, 2020

Opinion

Culture

Culture Editor: Katelin Pompa – xzgw@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Haley Brown – tbfx@iup.edu

(Case Marshall/The Penn)

Stabley Library to receive $135,000 donation from former director.

IUP libraries receives generous donation EVA TILLICH Contributing Writer jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Former Director of Libraries William Lafranchi made a $135,000 donation to Stabley Library to support scholarships and the library.

The donation will benefit the library in numerous ways. It will help provide them with resources and materials.

Additionally, the donation established the William E. and Sylvia P. Martin Lafranchi Sutton Scholarship.

“This investment in our program will allow us to expand and enhance the services and collections we provide in support of IUP’s teaching, learning and research mission,” Dean of the IUP Libraries Dr. Erik Nordberg said.

The IUP libraries are extremely thankful for the gift and support from Lafranchi.

“As a former library leader, Mr. Lafranchi understands the core value of the library to the university, yet he also realizes that libraries continue to evolve, particularly through technology,” Nordberg said.

The William E. and Sylvia P. Mar-

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tin Lafranchi Sutton Scholarship will help student pursuing degrees in nursing. It also created the William E. and Sylvia P. Martin Lafranchi Library Endowment.

In addition, some of the donation will go toward the Dr. Tony Atwater and Dr. Beverly Roberts Atwater Presidential Scholars Fund.

This fund provides support for freshmen at IUP. High achieving students can potentially be awarded the Sutton Scholarship based on an application, GPA and SAT scores.

“Support for scholarships is critical to helping us to continue to recruit and retain academically promising students at IUP,” Vice President for Enrollment Management Patricia McCarthy said. “We see so many deserving students with so much financial need. We are very grateful for gifts that help our students fund their education.”

Lafranchi, a Brookville native, earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois in Library Science. Afterward, he started his career at Clarion High School as a librarian. He then joined IUP in 1953 where he worked as the director of IUP libraries and media services. He spent 33 years in this role and later

retired in 1986.

“The very existence of life demands that certain strategies exist,” Lafranchi said. “Libraries and information systems, plus artificial intelligence, all are the introduction to shared enhancements to the world as learning.”

There are four libraries that collectively make up the IUP Libraries.

The branches are the Stapleton/ Stabley building, the Orendorff Music Library, the Punxsutawney Regional Library and the Northpointe Regional Library.

The Stapleton/Stabley building serves as IUP’s central library.

Additionally, the Stapleton/Stabley building houses the main book and archive collections, services, resources and more. The services and resources are shared amongst the different branches through a union catalog.

This donation from the Lafranchis is a part of the Imagine Unlimited Campaign.

The Imagine Unlimited Campaign is IUP’s $75 million project that lets IUP advance as a national leader by enhancing students’ experiences through scholarships, new and modern facilities and various programs.

November 4, 2020

A student picking out a book.

(The Penn)

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November 4, 2020

Culture

STATIC plans fun events for next week HALEY BROWN

Lead Culture Writer

tbfx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

STATIC has yet another exciting week of upcoming events for the IUP community to look forward to, and the events they plan for students and the community rarely disappoint.

The first of two events that are planned for the coming week will be one of STATIC’s infamous Netflix Watch Parties. STATIC will virtually present the female standup comedian Taylor Thompson Nov. 11.

The event will occur from 8 to 10 p.m. on the Google Chrome Netflix Watch Party extension. To participate, you need access to a Netflix account, but if you do not have access, you can use a free 30-day trial of Netflix to temporarily gain access.

During the watch party, STATIC will also ask some trivia questions about Taylor Tomlinson and re-

STATIC has adapted to virtual events to keep students together. ward the night’s trivia winner with some prizes that have yet to be announced. The special that will be streamed is Taylor Tomlinson’s “Quarter Life Crisis!” that came out on Netflix earlier in the year.

In the special, Tomlinson takes a bit of a self-depreciating trip about her life choices thus far. She also uses this special to address how weird it is to be too young to be an ‘adult’ but not young enough to be considered truly

‘young.’

This up-and-coming female millennial comedian started her rise to fame by performing in church basements and coffee shops. Tomlinson was even named one of the top 10 comics to watch by Variety in 2019.

Tune in with STATIC’s Watch Party to have a night full of jokes and relatable millennial content to laugh right along with.

On Nov. 12, STATIC has a

(STATIC /Twitter) living room concert planned from 8 to 10 p.m. They will be hosting a virtual concert with the indie-pop band AJR. The band of three brothers hails from Manhattan and writes, produces and mixes all of their music in their apartment living room. They have released five albums thus far as well as five EP’s.

The three brothers bring their own mix of talents to the table.

Each perform a variety of the

band’s musical components together. Adam provides vocals and bass, Jack contributes vocals and guitar and Ryan performs on the guitar, piano and vocals. Their most popular songs to date on the popular music streaming site, Spotify, are titled “Bang!” and “Burn the House Down.”

The concert is completely free and requires no kind of preregistration. It will take place on Zoom, and the link can be found on the event’s page on STATIC’s website.

There will also be a live Q&A portion of the night after the concert portion. Watchers can send in any questions they might have for the band to STATIC’s email or send the question in a direct message to STATIC’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

The waiting room of this event on Zoom will open at 7:30 p.m. and watchers can expect the concert to begin promptly at 8 p.m.

Follow STATIC on Twitter to find more information.

Culture

How students are spending their time (Monoar_CGI_Artis/Pixabay) AMARI WALKER Contributing Writer jqtbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

With the pandemic continuing to impact our lives, faculty and students are still looking for ways to go about their lives, and this includes their work environment.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released changes to their guidelines for businesses and returning employees May 6. One of the first reactions of a lot of businesses and schools was to shut down, which caused nonessential workers to stay home.

As of today, businesses are enforcing their employees to wear masks along with conducting daily health checks, implementing social distancing and sanitizing their stations between interactions with each customer.

Zach Krieger (junior, philosophy) said that he does not prefer to work during the semester.

However, he works with a self-employed carpet installer between semesters and had to adjust to wearing mask while doing such a labor-intensive job.

Additionally, Reyhan Faizi (freshman, mechanical engineering) is not currently working. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and reading. However, she has added a new hobby of knitting to her schedule to make up for the time she would have spent working.

Not all students, however, have decided prolong to going back to work.

Brielle Stephens (junior, communications media) works at Planet Fitness as a front desk representative. She is currently taking online courses this semester from home.

“The new protocols don’t affect my lifestyle that much besides a few minor changes,” she said.

Students are not the only ones who have to adjust to new work environments. This includes faculty as well.

“I’ve been adapting to new protocols as best as I can,” Dr. Anna Ortiz, communications media professor, said.

Ortiz said she tries her best to provide engaging and meaningful experiences for her students.

She has been working harder than ever to solve her issues through her email while balancing her role as a mother. She reminds herself that no matter how exhausted she gets; she will work through it and smile.

With everything shutting down, it’s important to stay busy by finding new hobbies to fill free time for those not working.

This is also the perfect time to spend with families since there is not much you can do outside of your home.

If you’re having trouble finding something to keep you busy, here are some new things to try.

According to MindFood, baking is known to be beneficial to help with mental health. The preparation of making the batter helps stimulate your senses, specifically smell, taste and touch. Focusing your brain onto something as simple as mixing ingredients can help release stress and anxiety.

Another great advantage of baking is that you can taste your creation after you spent the whole time making it and released any stress from your body.

If you want to try a hobby that is more family oriented, try putting together puzzles. They are known to help the ability to problem solving.

It allows you to take different approaches in order to figure out which pieces go where. Once the puzzle is complete, you have created the picture perfect that you can take apart at any time and put it back together.

Regardless of where you’re at right now, remember, we’re all in this together. There are lots of resources available to students if you are feeling down.

Sometimes going outdoors to take a walk and help when you are feeling cooped up.

November 4, 2020

Students laugh out loud with these comedians

EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer e.d.loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

During times of uncertainty, finding something to laugh about can be helpful.

As IUP goes through various changes including its spring break plans and retrenching faculty, students of the school have found comedy was able to keep them at ease.

With so many stand-up specials on various media platforms, there was a wide array of comedians to choose as the best. Some proved to be very popular, however.

One comedian that most responding students agreed upon was John Mulaney. He is known for his work as a writer on “Saturday Night Live” along with his Netflix specials.

These specials include “New Kid in Town” and “Kid Gorgeous,” both of which received plenty of positive acclaim.

Amanda Valinotti (senior, fine arts) said his lack of controversy made him a great comedian to watch.

“He’s incredibly funny and creative without being insensitive to anyone,” she said. “He’s just so silly

and pure.”

For Mary Kate Johnston (sophomore, nursing), Mulaney’s stories were always entertaining, especially when he included his wife and their dog.

“He makes it so relatable and jokes about the difference of religion,” she said. “He just has such hilarious stories that wouldn’t happen to anyone else.”

Another popular choice was Bert Kreischer. Aside from his stand-up specials, Kreischer has also been a reality television host and was called “the top partyer at the Number One Party School in the country” by Rolling Stone in 1997 while attending Florida State University.

He has also been known to perform his routines without a shirt on, something that made him a top choice for Martina McKimm (sophomore, interior design).

“He’s hilarious,” she said. “I don’t really know how to explain him, but he has a bunch of Netflix specials.”

Kreischer’s Netflix specials include “Hey Big Boy” and “Secret Time.”

Kaiya Reed (sophomore, anthropology) and Savannah Kyle (junior, theater) both said they enjoyed the style of comedy by Iliza Shlesinger, finding it to be both relatable and important.

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“She touches on a lot of women’s issues,” Reed said.

Aside from her comedy specials, Shlesinger also has a show on Netflix titled “The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show.” It premiered in 2019 and has six episodes.

Other comedians chosen by IUP students included Patton Oswalt.

Hayden White (sophomore, theater, dance and performance) said he enjoyed his dark humor.

“He goes kinda dark with his wife’s death but that’s life,” White said.

Students are not the only ones that have favorite comedians. Noel Paulina, who works in custodial services, said her family loved Sebastian Maniscalco.

“I grew up with Italians,” she said.

“He is old school. He talks about his upbringing and family.”

Maniscalco’s special “Stay Hungry” can be found on Netflix.

Some of his other performances are available on YouTube.

For those who do not have Netflix accounts, clips of all of these comedians are available on YouTube and other social media platforms.

Changes as well as learning remote can cause high tension within students. In order to relax, sometimes the best option is to binge watch something.

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October 28, 2020

Culture

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November 4, 2020

Seasonal Depression is approaching Are you prepared for shorter days?

Sometimes bleak weather can affect your mental health.

ALEXIS LOYA Copy Editor zphw@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

For some, the turning of the leaves means the joys of upcoming holidays, but for others, it’s the approaching dread of seasonal depression.

This is not to say that holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa aren’t exciting in their own way for different people. It’s that not everyone has the luxury of having a big family to spend these holiday’s with.

Also, the sun isn’t out as long, which means you aren’t getting that fresh Vitamin D feeling.

While the vibrant hues of red and orange are pretty, some can’t shake that feeling that it’s almost like things are dying. Fast forward to winter; the snow is pretty, but everything is officially dead.

To add to the mix, COVID-19 is still here.

The Mayo Clinic defines

seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) coincidentally as, “a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons.”

Most people with SAD experience their symptoms beginning in the fall and continue into the winter months, draining your energy. Symptoms, of course, can include feeling depressed, losing interest in activities, having low energy, trouble sleeping, changes in weight, sluggishness or agitation, difficulty concentrating, anxiety or suicidal thoughts.

For those with bipolar disorder, the seasonal changes of fall and winter are a time of depression, and the spring and summer is a time of mania.

One of the clinically known causes of SAD includes your body’s biological clock or “circadian rhythm.” The changing sun patterns interferes with your body’s ability to regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Proper sleeping patterns have a direct effect on your moods.

Vitamin D, for those who don’t

(kytapal/Pixabay)

Often when suffering with depression, you feel alone.

know, produces serotonin. This is your brain’s “happy chemical” that makes you feel good. As mentioned previously, once you take that away, your mood seems to go, too.

There are ways to try to combat the onslaught of SAD. To start, let’s take a look at how to add some light back into our lives.

You may not have heard of this, but there is such thing as “light therapy” that’s used to help treat SAD. Since the sun is gone, there are certain lights you can buy that try to mimic it.

The best light overall is a lamp called Verilux HappyLight Lucent, which can be found on Amazon at: https://www. amazon.com/Verilux-HappyLight-Lucent-Bright-Therapy/ dp/B079YBGPM5/?tag=dotdashvwm-20&ascsubtag=4172537%7Cn04921b62fc2346aca736703839b2a3a822.

This lamp also works well for those on a tight budget, also known as most college students.

According to the description,

it “mimics sunlight using full spectrum light at up to 10,000 lux to enhance mood, energy, sleep and focus – but without harmful UV rays.”

You use this lamp within 4 hours of waking up to replicate the “morning sun.” You want to keep it in close proximity to your face for about 20 to 60 minutes.

Of course, this is not to say you can’t find a set up that works best for you.

If you want something that automatically wakes you up as though the sun would, there are also “dawn simulators.” They work similarly to light lamps. The only difference is that it’s like an alarm clock, but instead of loud music or beeping, it produces light that gradually increases in intensity.

The cheapest on Amazon can be found at: https://www. amazon.com/Sunrise-Sleepers-Simulation-Nightlight-Daylight/dp/B081CHLF46/ ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwufn8BRCwARIsAKzP697ODhdQyEAhT7heMwJ0Q-

(Free-photos/Pixabay)

i0HcFcpWJ26NmlnagxiJJg_ tn_7RaMre9waAvAaEALw_wcB&hvadid=241949435891&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9006144&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvra nd=5772569776299421252&hvtargid=kwd-136616897&hydadcr=24661_10400816&keywords=dawn+simulator&qid=1604269034&sr=8-3&tag=googhydr-20.

There are more stereotypical ways that you can treat SAD, too.

This can include seeing a doctor about anti-depressants, using aromatherapy, staying active, sticking to a consistent schedule or taking Vitamin-D supplements.

Additionally, the counseling center at IUP is still available virtually for students. Their office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday, and you can reach them at (724) 357-2621 to schedule an appointment.

SAD affects different people in different ways. Some things listed may help some, but not others. It’s important to see what works best for you and strive to maintain a positive outlook.

November 4, 2020

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IUP students give fall fashion tips

Culture

How do students feel about Amy Coney Barret?

(couleur/Pixabay) OLIVIA CARBONE Staff Writer kzzw@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Fall is officially here, which means the start to the holidays and of course, cute clothes.

Although things are looking different this year, what hasn’t changed is the iconic fall styles that are seen every year. Many fall-fashion trends have come and gone in the last few years, but there are some that will last a lifetime such as vests, boots, sweaters, leggings and more.

“I love chunky booties and scarves,” Hannah McCreary (junior, human resources) said.

“They’re my absolute favorite things to wear.”

Booties and scarves are some of the top fashion trends for women and men as well. There are many different types of each for both groups to wear and feel good in.

“My favorite fall fits are probably the tall brown boots and vests,” Alexis Smith (senior, biology) said.

There are many different kinds of vest that everyone likes from fleece, thin, heavy and more.

Vests are the go-to for a lot of people until winter coat season hits.

One of the most popular fall trends is probably sweaters.

There are many different types such as chunky, casual, thin, large, open and more. Sweaters are good because you can dress them up with heels or wear them with just leggings.

“I love chunky sweaters during fall,” Meghan McCreary (graduate, nutrition) said. “I have so many in a lot of different colors.”

Another popular fall trend is hoodies and sweatshirts. This

trend is popular for both females and males no matter the time of year but especially fall. Hoodies come in all colors, styles and sizes. Whether they’re baggy, form fitting, or fit just right, they are the fall go-to.

“Wearing hoodies and sweats all the time is ideal,” Mason Carothers (junior, health and physical education) said. “It’s one of the many reasons why I love fall.”

Another great fall look is the jean jacket. This can be dressed up or down, and it’s personally my favorite thing to wear in the fall.

“Jean jackets are so easy to make a cute outfit with,” Gina Biancarelli (senior, nursing) said.

“It can either be super dressy or very casual.”

Jean jackets can be baggy, long, short, plain or patterned.

No matter the kind, it’s vital that you have at least one in your fall wardrobe.

Fall is the time for new colors, themes and reflection of the year.

Although 2020 has been anything short of traditional, one of the few things that haven’t changed are the seasons and with that comes fashion trends both new and old.

These fashion trends are important because it gives us a sense of warmth and style at the same time during these upcoming months.

Be bold this fall. Wear that sweater or skirt, take a cute picture of yourself and post it.

It’s 2020, we should start enjoying the little things that are around us, even something as small as fashion trends.

Make sure you check out some of these trends this fall and be confident in them. You can always add accessories too.

Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed as Supreme Court Justice on Oct. 27.

EVA TILLICH Staff Writer jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP On Oct. 27, Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed as the next Supreme Court Justice with a 52 to 48 vote in favor of her nomination from the Senate.

Barrett was appointed by President Donald Trump in September after the sudden passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

This appointment and now confirmation of Barrett has left many IUP students with conflicting feelings.

“I think it is embarrassing and concerning that our government has chosen to elect a Supreme Court Justice who could not so much as confidently list the rights included in the first amendment,” Jenna Painter (freshman, English) said. “[Also,] her inability to separate her political views and religious affiliations is a flaw that a member of the Supreme Court should absolutely never exhibit because these types of biases directly contradict the duties a justice is supposed to uphold.”

Other students shared their frustration with this confirmation and mention that they are concerned about their own rights.

Some of the student’s biggest concerns are women’s reproductive rights and LGBT rights.

“Her policies break down all of the gains that women have earned in the past century,” Mariah Mauser (freshman, music education) said. “I would be losing my reproductive rights, right to love whoever I want, right to free speech, amongst many others. She is not for women nor a symbol of women empowerment and I am ashamed … RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) is rolling in her grave. We deserved better.”

Although several students are worried about the future, several other students are very confident in Barrett and look forward to what will come from her in the future.

“I feel like she is very qualified for the position,” Sam Shelenberger (freshman, music education) said. “I don’t think she will let her personal beliefs determine how she will judge cases. I’m interested to see what is going to happen next. She’s confident in her ability, and I think she will remain largely unbiased.”

Barrett’s experience prior to her confirmation includes serving on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She was appointed to the position by Trump in

(Facebook)

2017. She was on the Advisory Committee on Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure from 2010 to 2016 after being appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts. She also was rated as “well qualified”

by American Bar Association.

“Over the past few weeks, the entire world has seen Justice Barrett’s deep knowledge, tremendous poise and towering intellect,” Trump said. “Justice Barrett earned a full academic scholarship to Notre Dame Law School, graduated first in her class and served as a clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia.

She was a beloved professor at Notre Dame Law School for 15 years before I very proudly appointed her to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017.”

Barrett attended Rhodes College where she majored in English literature and graduated in 1994. She later attended and graduated from Notre Dame Law School 1997 with a summa cum laude academic distinction.

The confirmation of Barrett has left IUP students with mixed feelings of disappointment and anticipation. Her future as a justice is still not clear, and IUP students are not sure what to expect. Follow the news to see how Barrett performs.

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November 4, 2020

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Sports

Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu

Hot Take Jake: Russell Wilson is the best player to start an NFL franchise JAKE TAYLOR Staff Writer J.M.Taylor8@iup.edu @JakeTaylor8726

A true face of a franchise in the NFL is hard to come by.

Many teams have never had a player that not only defines a team's values but carries them into championship heaven. The few franchises that have experienced this are lucky enough to have seen a level of success needed to win the Super Bowl.

For instance, Tom Brady in New England, Joe Montana to Steve Young in San Francisco or John Elway in the Mile-High City.

These players are the true faces of the franchise.

What current NFL player would you choose to start a franchise around? My answer may seem obvious now, but it has been my answer to this question for years now: Russell Wilson.

He is finally making his push for MVP, but that is solely due to the media attention surrounding him.

He has been the most consistent and reliable quarterback in the NFL for the last eight seasons.

The man has never missed a game in his career.

Only playing eight full seasons, Wilson has 31,624 yards, 249 passing TD’s and a 64.9 completion percentage. By the looks of it, Wilson is hitting his prime now. These numbers will only go up. He has led his team to the postseason seven out of eight seasons, holds the 2nd highest passer rating in league history, and he is the fastest quarterback to 86 wins in NFL history. He

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owns the 2nd highest touchdown percentage in the Super Bowl era with 6.0 percent, and he has the highest 4th-quarter passer rating since 1991 with 109.6.

Wilson has a 31-7 record following an in-season loss, which ranks best amongst QBs since 1970. Since 2012, he leads the NFL with 21 games with at least a 130.0 passer rating. He has 51 career games with multiple TD passes and no INTs, the most such games in NFL history by a QB in his first eight seasons.

Wilson joined Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history to pass for 3,000 yards and have 20-plus touchdowns in their first eight seasons.

He also became the first QB in NFL history with a winning record in each of his first eight seasons.

Wilson has been surrounded with talent on both sides of the ball for three years of his NFL career. Seattle went to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning one and tragically losing (ESPN) the other. The man knows how to carry a team through a post season campaign.

If you have been watching the NFL the last 10 years, you know that Wilson is the man that will lead his team down the field for a game-winning drive. He has 23 fourth quarter comebacks and 32 game-winning drives. Since 2012, Seattle has a +269 4th quarter difference that is best in the NFL. However, Josh Nist (senior, communications media) said he would pick Patrick “magic” Mahomes to start a franchise with.

“The young superstar already built a resume most QBs aren’t capable of achieving in their entire career, let alone in just

four seasons,” he said. “The man is such a boss in every sense of the word that he already has part ownership of Kansas City Royals.”

Personally, I am not arguing against Mahomes. I am only emphasizing Wilson.

In 2017, the only year Wilson missed the postseason, he scored 37 of the offense's 38 total touchdowns. Seattle finished 9-7 that year. The definition of MVP is exactly that statistic. He owned a 134.8 fourth quarter passer rating that season.

Wilson is the most valuable player to his team yet has no MVP votes ever. I find that stat astonishingly ignorant. People know me for hot takes, but geez Louise, that is the hottest take of all time.

Wilson remains humble yet hungry. I want a franchise QB to pass deep balls, throw on the run, rush for first downs when the play breaks down and lead the locker room. Wilson checks these boxes and then some. He is the complete player, short, sweet and to the point.

Wilson has led a franchise to the highest heights that an NFL team can achieve. Throughout his young career, he has established a winning culture in Seattle.

Wilson’s career is far from over.

He is only 31 and could have up to another decade of football ahead of him. With players like Tom Brady playing into their 40s, it is entirely possible that Wilson could finish his career with top three stats in every category.

Wilson is already a Hall-ofFamer in most people’s eyes.

With what he has already done, and what he is going to do, Wilson is an automatic lock to start a franchise. You can’t convince me otherwise.

Get ready to sit down, shut-up, and drink a beer. Russell Wilson is going to break records.

November 4, 2020

(Teddy Jeanette/The Penn) In Wilson’s short career, he has already put up legendary stats.

Sports

November 4, 2020

Sports

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Doc looking to heal the wounds of 76ers fans Steven Langdon Jr. Editor-in-Chief S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePenn Sixer fans, raise your hand if you are tired of “Trust the Process.”

Most 76ers fans just want to taste the NBA Finals, something they have not seen since 2001 with Allen Iverson. The team is now in the hands of a top coach in the league with Doc Rivers.

On Sept. 28, the Los Angeles Clippers decided to part ways with Rivers after seven seasons.

Philadelphia ownership immediately got him to interview, and five days later, filled the vacancy left by Brett Brown.

What does Rivers bring to the table? A winning mentality, but with some knots.

He has missed the playoffs five out of his 21 seasons, which has been his strong point as a coach.

Where Rivers fails to impress

is the playoffs. The teams he coached to the playoffs have lost in the first round eight times, or half of the time.

The 2007-08 championship winning coach has been piecing an interesting staff together as well.

Dave Joerger, former coach of the Kings, will become an assistant coach. Maybe he could convince De’Aaron Fox to come over in a trade.

Dan Burke will also become an assistant coach coming from the Pacers, where he coached for 19 seasons. It will be interesting to see how he and Joel Embiid work with each other after Burke said he “hated” him.

Sam Cassell will come over after being under Rivers in Los Angeles.

It was clear from the moment the 76ers were eliminated from the bubble that Brown was not returning. While the team did go from historically bad to consistent playoffs, it is just not enough with

what they have had since the start of “the process.”

It has not just been coaching that is the problems, but also drafting. They have had 10 first round draft picks since 2013, including four in the top three. Out of those 10, there are three still on the team.

Let’s look at the current roster that Rivers inherits. There will be 11 players under contract for the upcoming season. Just a quick look at the salaries, and it is clear that cap is a problem.

First move on most minds is to move Al Horford. The experiment did not work in the slightest with Horford and Embiid on at the same time, not to mention if they are able to send away his $27 million contract elsewhere.

Tobias Harris will probably stay even though he has a bad contract. He and Rivers worked well together in his two seasons in Los Angeles.

Harris was a borderline all-star

his last season with Rivers and the Clippers. He put up 19.6 points and around 37 percent from deep.

The next move is to establish if Ben Simmons is playing the point or forward. Rivers should consider him playing the one as many around the league agree his playing style fits the position more.

Now comes the hard part of trying to pick up reliable shooting.

Embiid cannot play 40 minutes and score 30 points per game and win every day. They should bring in players like Jordan Clarkson or Marco Belinelli for shooting.

One player of interest could be an aging Derrick Rose on a rebuilding Pistons team. The former MVP averaged 18 points last season and shot a respectable 30 percent from the arc. This would be a great jolt of shooting to come off the bench when Simmons needs to take a breather.

To replace Horford, Rivers might want to look to a player he

coached last season. The Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell.

Rivers loves his sixth man and has been coach to five of the last seven players to receive the award.

That mentality will not go away with a new team.

With a Harrell to replace the lack-luster production of Horford, this team might be able to make some progress. After a first-round sweep in the 2020 NBA bubble, Philadelphia needs to shake up this roster.

Hopefully, the Sixers have reached the end of “the process.”

While “the process” might have garnered the team draft picks that lead to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, it would be a huge waste to have two generational talents on the same team and have nothing to show for it.

Fans would hate to waste the careers of Embiid and Simmons.

It is time the 37-year championship drought ends for Philadelphia’s sake.

(Teddy Jeanette/The Penn) Can Doc Rivers end the 76ers troubles and lead them to the promiseland?

November 4, 2020

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Sports

(pittsburghpanthers.com) After their strong start to the season, the Panthers have not been able to put it all together.

In the ‘Pitt’ of despair: Panthers football struggling JAKE SLEBODNICK Managing Editor J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu @slebby24 After months of uncertainty, college football is back with a revised look at how they are operating.

While division two and three schools canceled their season due to COVID-19 concerns, division one continues to carry out a season with a plethora of major conferences joining in.

But even during a shortened season, one thing continues to carry on: the Pittsburgh Panthers continue to underachieve.

Fans thought the season was a lost cause after All-American nose tackle Jaylen Twyman opted out, however, Pitt showed promise in the opening weeks of play as they shutout Austin Peay 55-0 Sept.12.

They would continue to dominate in the latter part of September with the success earning them spots in the College Football Top 25 rankings. While a national ranking is normally considered the “kiss of death” for Pitt, they stayed ranked for two weeks,

holding spots 21 after defeating Syracuse and 24 after defeating Louisville.

However, at the turn of the month, the Panthers’ luck would vanish as they went on a 4-game losing streak, losing in games where Pitt was the heavy favorite to win with the most damning loss coming against North Carolina State after a complete defensive collapse.

Mix that with another close loss against Boston College and two more losses coming from ranked opponents, Pitt has all but solidified the worst performance by any team in the NCAA. Worst of all, another star player, defensive back Paris Ford, opted out on Monday with four games left in the season. Some believe this is due to Ford seeing the light that Pitt could miss out on a bowl bid and saving himself for the NFL Draft next year. Others believe tensions are reaching their peak among players and coaches.

But what left Pitt in such a treacherous shape?

Offensive woes.

One of the trouble areas in Pitt’s game plan is its ground

attack, or lack thereof. Vincent Davis leads the team in rushing attempts with 91 but has only produced 263 yards and 2.9 yards per carry to show for it. While Davis’ total rushing yards may not seem as bad as some think, his yards per carry line is what concerns analysts.

Out of a five-man rushing attack, Davis is second-to-last in that category with quarterback Kenny Pickett coming in last. In addition, Pickett accounts for nearly 74 percent of Pitt’s total yards on offense, making him the second QB in the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) to bear that much offensive production.

In addition, Davis’ lack of yardage on the ground contributes to the team’s low production in third down scenarios.

According to John McGonigal of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pitt is averaging almost 8.5 yards to gain on third downs this season on top of a conversion rate of 34.3 percent. This mark is four percentage points lower than 2019.

“Without a running game,” he said, “it’s difficult to get to a third-and-reasonable. And without

[that] or a reliable passing game, it’s nearly impossible to extend drives and score.”

While Pickett and his aerial attack hasn’t necessarily been a “bad” player this season, it’s tough to take an entire team on one’s shoulders and expect any positive outcome. If Pitt developed a more disciplined and aggressive rushing attack, games could be won easily.

Pat Narduzzi: Pittsburgh’s No. 1 enemy.

What happens when a vinyl record or CD-ROM becomes scratched, leading to repeating lyrics? One throws it out.

Head coach Narduzzi is a prime example of that. However, Pitt fans cannot throw him away.

Listen to every postgame interview, and you’ll most likely hear the phrases “Nobody respects us,” or “It’s us against the world,” uttered from Narduzzi’s mouth.

What you hardly hear is him addressing what’s wrong on the field.

Granted, Pitt sells themselves short when it comes to recruiting as they continuously bring in recruits of 2 to 3-star caliber when

they could easily get 4-star players due to their national representation. However, losing games on account of poor play-calling in key moments will haunt coaches until they either turn the program around or are chased out of town.

Examples would be attempting run-pass options (RPOs) in the NC State and Boston College games, as they proved to consistently be ineffective. These decisions allowed defenses to keep Pitt in-check by stuffing running backs after short yardage gains and almost giving away pass plays on third down situations.

McGonigal pointed out that 24 percent of offensive carries were stuffed at the line of scrimmage so far this season, which is 4 percent higher than all of 2019. With this abysmal statistic holding precedence, and with no change coming from Narduzzi’s game plan, he is essentially killing any chance Pitt has at turning the offensive production around.

With four games left in the 2020 season, and the season finale scheduled against No. 1 ranked Clemson, Pitt’s time to dig out of this rut is quickly diminishing.