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The Penn

STOP THE STIGMA ABOUT MALES, MENTAL HEALTH

CAMPAIGN EXCEEDS ORIGINAL GOAL BY UNIMAGINED AMOUNTS PG.3

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NEWS

News Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu

Campaign exceeds original goal by unimagined amounts MARIAH MAUSER Contributing Writer lmvbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The IUP Imagine Unlimited Comprehensive Campaign has exceeded its goal of $75 million and is ending early.

When Imagine Unlimited decided to raise its goal from $40 million to $75 million, it was with the knowledge that it would be supported by the IUP community, alumni, and friends.

But what was never expected was that it would so quickly reach its goal or that they would exceed it. According to the IUP press release issued, the campaign has ended six months early and $6.35 million over its goal to come in at approximately $81 million.

“We have been overwhelmed – but not surprised – by the generosity of our donors and the hard work of our volunteers and staff,” said William Madia, co-chair of the Imagine Unlimited campaign with Audrey DeLaquil Madia. “Our donors have been very clear about the impact that IUP has had on their lives, and the resulting necessity they feel to support current and future students because of how IUP has changed their lives.”

The primary goal of the campaign is to raise money to focus on improve many STEM and athletic programs. It aims to enhance the math and science departments, improving opportunities for academic excellence and innovation, and provide opportunities for leadership through athletic competition.

According to the IUP press release, thanks to approximately 63,700 donations from 22,000 donors, the Imagine Unlimited Comprehensive Campaign exceeded it’s goal and will be able to provide many of these opportunities and enhancements without any difficulty.

“Students are at the heart of everything we do, especially the Imagine Unlimited campaign,” said Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna,

News

The Imagine Unlimited Campaign exceeded the original goal of $40 million to $75 million.

IUP’s vice president of university advancement. “More than 7,700 students have received direct support through scholarships that are part of the campaign (many of which are renewable), and thousands more will be impacted in the future.”

During these troubling times of the COVID-19 pandemic, not many knew what kind of future was in store for IUP. Due to the hard work of many students, volunteers and coordinators, however, Imagine Unlimited was able to still meet its goal ahead of schedule and help out with emergency relief for students.

The Imagine Unlimited Campaign has also, in the past nine months alone, raised $430,000 for students who are struggling amidst the pandemic. Because of the donations made to the campaign for this purpose, 450 students have received help so that they may continue their studies during this time of crisis.

Not only has there been immense support from alumni and friends of the college, but students themselves have taken to donating what they can to help their fellow students. According to the press release, since 2015, there has been a 171-percent increase of students donating to the campaign.

Even though the campaign has come to an end now, there will soon be another campaign to help with.

“We’ll begin a needs assessment in collaboration with the university’s leadership team, focusing on the needs of academic affairs and our strategic plan,” Osseiran-Hanna said.

Through the example of Imagine Unlimited Comprehensive Campaign, this provides hope for many other programs that might need funding. Because of many donors such as John Kopchick, the Cejaks, the Madias and the many others, there will always be a support network for IUP, the students and the alumni.

February 24, 2021

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IUP announces current plans for fall 2021 HEATHER BAIR News Editor zzzx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

IUP plans on returning to in-person classes beginning fall 2021.

In a press release issued Feb. 22, IUP announced that in-person classes may return for the fall 2021 semester.

“We will continue to follow the guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control as we move forward,” IUP President Dr. Michael Driscoll said in the release.

“As we continue to follow the science, we are hoping that health and safety guidelines will allow us to resume in-person events and extracurricular activities that we all have greatly missed.”

For the fall 2021 semester, classes are scheduled to

begin Aug. 23.

IUP will also continue following the health and safety guidelines.

According to the press release and the updated emails from IUP about students who test positive of COVID-19, the results have seen a dramatic decrease from last semester.

“We hope this trend continues,” Driscoll said.

The winter commencement ceremony was held virtually over Zoom, however there are still discussions being made about the May commencement ceremonies to be conducted.

Fall sports have not yet been announced by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and National Collegiate Athletic Association, according to the press release.

Any new information will be released as soon as possible by IUP.

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February 24, 2021

News

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week begins Writer shares story of witnessing the signs in a friend

MEGAN DONNY Staff writer bbcx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDA) is already underway after starting on Monday.

Many people know of someone who has experienced an eating disorder. In fact, eating disorders affect 10 to 20 percent of women and 4 to 10 percent of men in college, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.

These statistics are on the rise. The stress of being in a different environment, increased workloads, new schedules, along with many other factors contribute to what brings about eating disorders.

NEDA’s purpose is to bring to light the truths of eating disorders, to educate the public and to spread the message of hope.

During my freshman year, I began to lose contact with one of my closest high school friends.

The more I reached out to her, the less she responded.

When she did speak to me, she was withdrawn and usually very stressed. My friend has been a competitive athlete for most of her life, so I was used to seeing her frequently working out.

But when she began college, she posted almost every day a photo of herself on the treadmill.

I began to worry about both her mental and physical state. When the summer came around, and I saw her in person, she had lost a lot of weight. This is when I realized that my friend was struggling with an eating disorder.

The ages between 18 and 24 are when most eating disorders fully develop. This is mostly attributed to college life and the changes brought about by the transition into adulthood. Being surrounded by an entirely new set of peers brings about a certain amount of anxiety and can cause you to struggle with your self-esteem.

Growing up, my friend was one of the most confident people I knew. She had never openly struggled with her self-esteem or body image. When I realized she was struggling with these issues,

NEDA raises awareness about eating disorders.

I did not know what to do or how to help her. She had not confided in me about what she was struggling with yet.

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are eating disorders that are serious and potentially life threatening.

Anorexia Nervosa is associated with self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Symptoms include fear of gaining weight, behaviors intended to prevent weight loss and sometimes binge eating and purging.

Bulimia Nervosa is associated with cycles of binge eating which result in compensatory behaviors to reverse the effects of binge eating. Symptoms include binge eating, followed by purging at least once a week. The purging usually involves self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or

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other medications, fasting and excessive exercise.

While Anorexia and Bulimia are typically the most wellknown, there is also Binge Eating Disorder (BED), Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) and Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED).

It is important for college-aged students to be educated and aware of these different types of disorders and their symptoms.

My friend’s mother ended up informing me about her eating disorder. She struggled with Anorexia Nervosa for most of her freshman year at college.

This was due to being in a new, unstructured environment and being surrounded by a new group of peers, including a new significant other who pressured her to be in better shape.

Over the summer, she began to acknowledge her struggles and began seeing a therapist.

She also broke up with her significant other, who was making it hard for her to begin the road to recovery.

It was difficult for me to be there for my friend as she struggled with her eating disorder. I wanted to be there for her, but for a while, she was not ready to come forward and talk about it.

Even though my friend usually declined offers to go out with me (she often avoided seeing

people while she was struggling), I continued to try to make her feel included.

When helping your friend who is struggling with an eating disorder, or any type of mental illness, it is important to make sure they know there is no shame in what they are dealing with. Thankfully, my friend’s mother already knew she was struggling before her friends did and had encouraged her daughter to seek professional help.

If you do see the signs that someone you know is struggling and you want to comfort them, there are a few things to remember. First is to know as much as you can about eating disorders before you discuss them.

There are a lot of assumptions, misconceptions and stigmas surrounding all types of mental illnesses, including eating disorders. It is important for everyone to be aware and to know the truth when it comes to these illnesses.

Many people think that eating disorders just cause loss of weight. The truth is that there are a wide variety of symptoms that come with suffering from an eating disorder. Thinning hair,

menstruation and conception issues, dental issues, lethargy and muscle damage are just a few of the symptoms that many people are unaware of.

When talking to someone struggling, it is important to be honest and use “I” statements when talking to them. Using “you” statements can lead the sufferer to feel defensive or attacked.

It is important to let anyone suffering know that there is no shame in seeking professional help. Many eating disorders do not resolve without professional intervention of some type. The first step to recovery is acknowledging that you are struggling and wanting to feel better.

The IUP Health Center offers many different campus and community services and counseling for anyone struggling with a mental illness or eating disorder.

You can find them through MyIUP or by calling the counseling center at 724-357-2621 or emailing counseling-center@iup.edu.

If you or someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder, the NEDA hotline can be reached at 800-931-2237.

Help Hotlines IUP Counseling Center 724-357-2621 NEDA Hotline 800-931-2237 Text NEDA to 741741 National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) 630-577-1330 Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ 1-866-488-7386

February 24, 2021

News

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Stop the stigma about males, mental health BENJAMIN BRUMBAUGH

Staff Writer msqy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Many individuals struggle with various forms of mental illnesses including ADHD, anxiety, depression and eating disorders.

Males of all ages are less likely than females to talk about or seek help for these types of issues, according to the American Psychological Association.

This is due, in large part, to the cultural upbringing that men experience and the stigma against seeking help that arises from that upbringing.

“We’re supposed to be tough,” Dr. Erick Lauber (journalism and public relations) said. “Don’t cry and don’t show weakness. I clearly recall my older brother ingraining that message in me. I was young, and I would cry from being hurt in our neighborhood tackle football games.”

“The cultural expectation is for men to be resilient and stoic,” Liam

Gaynor (junior, management information systems) said. “To admit you struggle with mental health makes you vulnerable because you could appear weak.”

Both Gaynor and Lauber have firsthand experience with this topic due to their own struggles with mental health issues.

“I experienced a severe episode of depression my senior year in college,” Lauber said. “It was so bad, so dangerous, that I was self-admitted to the psychology ward of the local hospital under supervision of my counselor from campus.”

“ADHD and anxiety have affected my life in many subtle, yet big ways,” Gaynor said. “It’s different for everyone, but you don’t think like normal people and concentrated effort is hard.”

Both men indicated that seeking help for their issues was a daunting step to take and required a good deal of debate and thought. In the end, both sought help and are very glad that they chose to do so.

“My mental health is more important than what others might think

of me,” Lauber said. “No one that was my friend stopped being my friend when I came back from my hospital stay. Many wanted to help, and my closest friends were mad that I didn’t reach out to them.”

“No one has ever regretted asking for help and it’s always better than struggling,” Gaynor said.

As hard as it can be for males to seek help for mental illnesses, it may be even harder for males to seek help with an eating disorder.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), “Men can face a double stigma, for having a disorder characterized as feminine or gay and for seeking psychological help.”

Many people believe that only females suffer from eating disorders (EDs), however this is simply not true. According to NEDA, about one in three people who suffer from an eating disorder are male.

“Oftentimes, the sexist assumption (of EDs being exclusive to females) prohibits males from expressing their concerns or ‘downplaying’ their behaviors, and/or the impacts

on mental and physical health,” Dr. Kristin Faust (psychologist, IUP Counseling Center) said.

Faust indicated that toxic masculinity and sexism were factors that contributed to the stigma relating to male eating disorders.

“If EDs are viewed as a ‘female’ problem, it is likely more difficult for a male to express concerns related to body image and ED concerns,” Faust said. “I think social media may be exacerbating ED-like concerns for males and contributes to maintaining stigma as well.”

These stigmas related to male mental health can be very dangerous and harmful. If left untreated, these mental illnesses can have dangerous effects on both mental and physical health.

“Talk about it,” Faust said. “Normalize it. In everyday conversations, on social media, in professional and personal lives. Acknowledge the stigma but try to decrease its power by being open about struggles - by being open about issues, struggles, concerns, mental health, we decrease their power and decrease the

shame associated with them.”

“I’ve always felt compelled to tell my story. I figure if someone as successful as me speaks up, it might empower others,” Lauber said.

If you are experiencing a mental health issue, seeking help is the best thing that you can do.

“Making the phone call or appointment to actually talk to someone about whatever it is you’re struggling with is actually a huge sign of strength - I like to tell my clients (regardless of gender) who had difficulty making the initial appointment that I am proud of them and happy that they decided to talk to me,” Faust said.

“Being honest with yourself is the most important step. Ask yourself, what would the rest of my life be like if this condition never got better and is this the life you want for yourself?”

Gaynor said.

If you are dealing with any form of mental illness, IUP’s Counseling Center can help. For more information about the services that they provide, visit www.iup.edu/counselingcenter.

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February 24, 2021

News

Stand up, speak out, do not be silenced History changed when these figures took a stand JULIA ROBINS Staff Writer spxbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP While some iconic Black American figures are taught in schools, there are dozens, or even hundreds of lesser-known heroes that changed the world, fought for civil rights and saved lives.

Claudette Colvin Many know the story of Rosa Parks, recognized for her role in the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955. But many do not know the story of pregnant 15-yearold Claudette Colvin. On March 2, 1955, while her schoolmates moved to the back of the bus, Colvin refused. The police physically removed her from the bus and arrested her for assaulting a police officer, disturbing the

(Facebook) Sojourner Truth spoke about the truth and horrors of slavery. peace and violating the segregation law.

It is said that Colvin influenced Parks’ decision to not resist arrest when she was ordered off the bus in December, and Parks’ invitation for her to join the NAACP, the United States’ oldest civil

rights organization, inspired Colvin to be a plaintiff in the federal Browder v. Gayle case, which ruled that the segregated buses were unconstitutional.

Sojourner Truth Sojourner Truth’s name couldn’t

be truer, as she spoke out about the truth of the horrors of slavery and her inherent civil rights as a woman. She believed it was her religious duty to go forth and speak on behalf of other oppression victims.

In 1851, she delivered one of the most powerful abolitionist speeches in U.S. history, “Ain’t I a Woman?” More impressive was her brutal journey of escaping slavery and winning back custody of her five children.

She became the first Black woman to sue a white man and win, laying groundwork for racial equality in the court system.

Ida B. Wells Ida B. Wells-Barnett was an activist and journalist. She was born into slavery during the Civil War. In 1884, Wells-Barnett sued a train car company in Memphis for racism after being thrown off a train even though she had a ticket.

Despite winning locally, her case was overturned by a federal court.

After her friend was lynched, she investigated the violence and wrote several articles in local newspapers. Her papers were burned, and she was faced with death threats. Despite leaving Memphis, she continued to be a voice in journalism exposing violence and hypocrisy.

Edward Bouchet Edward Bouchet was the first Black American to earn a doctoral degree, and he graduated Yale with a doctorate in physics after fighting through educational segregation. He taught for 26 years at the Institute for Colored Youth where he made his life’s mission to inspire Black teens to rise beyond segregation and achieve academic and civil accomplishments. He was also active in NAACP.

Asa Philip Randolph Asa Philip Randolph fought for the rights of Black laborers. After gaining the attention of President Franklin D. Roosevelt with his plan to lead a protest of thousands in D.C., Roosevelt signed the executive order that banned discrimination of armed service members and in defense industries.

He also founded the first Black

labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

Robert Small Robert Small fought for the freedom of slaves, and, in 1862, he freed himself and his 16 crew members from slavery by taking a Confederate ship and sailing away to freedom.

He became a naval war hero in the Civil War and became a congressman for South Carolina. He is considered to have been a major influence in the decision to accept Black Americans into the U.S. Army by convincing President Lincoln with the help of Fredrick Douglass.

Matthew Alexander Henson In global achievements, while Commander Robert Edwin Peary is credited for being the first American on the North Pole on April 6, 1909, Matthew Alexander Henson technically got there first and enabled Peary to get there.

Peary hired Henson as an assistant, whose sledding and carpentry skills were legendary. In addition, the only reason Peary was able to reach the North Pole was because Henson was able to communicate with the Inuit people to gain their help.

Decades later, shortly before Henson’s death, he was awarded the credit he deserved with the Congressional Medal in 1944 and a Presidential Citation in 1950.

Charles Richard Drew If someone is injured and bleeding badly or is entering surgery, blood transfusions are necessary to keep them alive. According to the Red Cross, 4.5 million American lives are saved each year by blood transfusions, and every 90 seconds, a patient receives a transfusion.

This life-saving procedure would not be possible without Charles Richard Drew, the first Black man in the U.S. to earn a medical doctorate from Columbia University. He not only discoverd how to store blood plasma but also organized the first blood bank.

While we remember those who fought for freedom and made headlines, let us not forget those who fought silently and, sometimes, against their will, changed history as we know it.

February 24, 2021

News

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Black women changed history from the beginning until now

Tarana Burke

Viola Davis

Ava DuVernay

Condoleezza “Condi” Rice

Rice was the first Black woman to hold the position of Secretary of State in the George W. Bush presidency. She is currently director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. She was also the first woman to serve as National Security advisor.

Rice was the first Black woman to serve as a U.S United Nations representative under the Obama administration. She is currently serving as Director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council under President Joe Biden.

Loretta Lynch

Ibtihaj Muhammad

Amy Sherald

Misty Copeland

Amanda Gorman

Burke became known for starting the “Me Too” movement that became the viral #MeToo on the internet. The hashtag was first used in 2006 to help women with similar experiences stand up for themselves and together in solidarity.

From 2015 to 2017, Lynch was the first Black woman to serve as the attorney general of the U.S. She was appointed by President Barack Obama and succeeded Eric Holder. She served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York under both President Bill Clinton (1999–2001) and Obama (2010–15).

Viola Davis became the first African American to win an Emmy in 2015 for outstanding lead actress in a drama series with ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder.” She is also the first African American to win the “Triple Crown of Acting,” an Academy Award, Primetime Emmy Award and two Tony Awards.

Muhammad was the first Black woman to wear a hijab and win a bronze medal while competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

She competed in fencing, becoming a medalist. She was named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential people in the world.

In 2012, DuVernay became the first Black woman to win the “Sundance Best Feature Directing Award,” first Black woman to be nominated for “Best Director Golden Globe Award,” first Black woman to direct a best picture Oscar-nominated movie and first Black woman to direct a movie with a budget of more than $100 million.

In 2018, Sherald became the first Black woman to create a presidential portrait for the National Portrait Gallery, for her painting of former First Lady Michelle Obama. The portraits have increased attendance at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

An American Ballet dancer, in 2015, Copeland became the first Black Woman to hold the position of principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre in 75 years.

She was considered a ballet prodigy when she was 13 years old.

Susan Rice

At 22, Gorman made history during the 2021 inauguration as the youngest person to read a poem at a presidential inauguration. She is an American poet and activist whose work focuses on African diaspora, feminism, marginalization and oppression. She was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate.

Opinion

Why Black history is also white history When it comes to Black History Month, American society is divided. Some believe a month should not be isolated to any particular group to “celebrate” its own history.

Others believe the idea of celebrating Black History Month is racist and divisive. And many more believe celebrating Black history is celebrating Blackness and all its accomplishments.

Many have raised questions, such as: if there is a Black History Month, then why isn’t there a white history month?

So, why are many Americans opposed to, or scared of, the idea of Black History Month?

Is it because we are forced to really look at our country’s past, and that the tainted history of our country makes us uncomfortable?

Or is it because we are just not interested in Black history?

What we, as Americans, need to understand is that Black history is white history. They are interconnected, and one cannot be talked about without the other.

Though Black history is given less attention and usually glossed over, Black people have been involved in every facet of America’s history. Thinking otherwise is harmful.

Black history has been interconnected with white history since the first slave ship landed at the docks of Jamestown, Virginia in 1619.

“It is impossible to understand politics, the Black community’s relationship with the police, or why we even need to say ‘Black lives matter’ if we don’t learn the history of this country,” comedian Amber Ruffin said.

Black History Month is needed and important because most of American history is taught through a narrow lens of a majority white perspective. This is a disservice to Black and white students alike.

To be a Black student in America is to always learn about your history in half-truths.

For instance, many are taught about Washington’s wooden dentures. What’s not taught in schools is the fact that “Washington paid about six pounds for nine teeth that were pulled from slaves’

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(Flickr) Despite history books changing constantly, one thing that has not is the depiction of many historical figures such as George Washington. This has caused much of Black history to become white history. mouths,” according to a payment recorded in a 1784 ledger.

Furthermore, in 2015, a Texas history textbook was caught describing slavery as “millions of workers that migrated from Africa to the southern United States to work on agricultural plantations.”

While Texas is a habitual repeat offender, it is not the only state known for continuously distorting truths in its textbooks, when it comes to Black people and Black history.

“A Child’s History of North Carolina” textbook states “enslaved people were allowed all the freedom they seemed to want and were given the privilege of visiting other plantations when they chose to do so. All that was required of them was to be in place when work time came. At the holiday season, they were almost as free as their masters.”

Though this book was written in 1916, it is still widely circulated today.

Many may think that racist ideals are a thing of the past; however, the racism Black people experience every day makes this thinking dangerous.

Take for example, for years, a Utah charter school used to allow

parents to opt their children out of the Black History Month curriculum. Only after receiving backlash from the general public did they finally, this month, put out a statement that said, “it will no longer allow parents to opt their children

February 23, 2021

out of the Black History Month curriculum.”

“We should not shield our children from the history of our Nation, the mistreatment of its African American citizens, and the bravery of civil rights leaders, but should educate them about it,” Academy Director Micah Hirokawa said.

We live in a society where learning about Black history – American history – is optional.

Silencing and white-washing American history is exactly why the celebration of Black History Month was started.

The concept of celebrating Black history first originated as “Negro History Week” by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1915.

Woodson and Minister Jesse E. Moorland started the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), “an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.”

Gerald Ford was the first U.S. president to officially acknowledge the celebration of Black History Month in 1976, stating that Americans should “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected

accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Black History Month is a time for many Black students to learn about the real history of their ancestors, as well as a time for their white counterparts to learn and understand.

Learning Black history is vital to comprehending the modern American system.

Yes, it is uncomfortable to learn about the atrocities of your white ancestors. No, you are not responsible for their actions.

However, turning a blind eye to the truth, and silencing the truth just because it is uncomfortable to live with, is an act of complicity.

Complicity is way more dangerous.

It is not racist to celebrate Black History Month, because Black history is white history; it’s America’s history.

Maybe if the real American history is taught in schools, then Black History Month will not be needed. But until then…

Written By:

Letter to the Editor

Opinion

Culture

Culture Editor: Eva Tillich – jxsbc@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Haley Brown – tbfx@iup.edu

Brittany Broski (left) and Sarah Schauer (right) discussed how internet fame has changed their lives and brought them together.

(Facebook/Instagram @sarahschauer)

Com e dic conve rsa t ion w it h con t e n t cre a t ors

Brittany Broski, Sarah Schauer join STATIC for a night of fun, reflection HALEY BROWN Lead Culture Writer tbfx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP On Friday, the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) hosted a night of comedy with viral sensations Brittany Broski and Sarah Schauer.

The two comedians introduced themselves and began an evening full of chuckles, tasteful potty humor and masterful burps.

The event was run by two STATIC members: Cassidy Krug, STATIC’s executive chair and Teddy Jeannette, STATIC’s graphics chair.

The two led the questions and upheld the cheerful, playful banter with the TikTok viral sensations turned successful comedians.

The event began with a short introduction and a reading of the bios of Broski and Schauer by the STATIC members. Immediately following, Schauer joked about how self-deprecating her own bio was compared to Broski’s.

“Brittany has such a nice bio, and mine is just like, ‘Sarah is an absolute piece of s***,’” Schauer said.

Broski cackled in response, and

Culture

the night began.

The entire event ran more like a group of best friends hanging out and talking about old times than two women who made a career out of their random past internet successes. The night was relaxed, inarguably fun, and the laughter never stopped. Broski and Schauer’s familiarity with one another and their obvious ease in front of a crowd was evident and enjoyable throughout the Zoom session.

The questions asked were thought up by STATIC as well as some audience members who submitted questions through the social media accounts of STATIC, as well as through email.

Some audience members were also lucky enough to win the chance to ask Schauer and Broski questions through the Zoom call and were invited by the STATIC hosts to turn on their cameras and microphones and participate in the conversation.

Broski and Schauer were first asked to introduce themselves and give a brief overview of their stories for the audience members who were unaware of their full histories.

Broski briefly mentioned how she got her initial fame through the dreaded kombucha meme that ended her job at the bank where she worked.

Schauer explained how she was let go from her job due to going viral on TikTok, as Brittany was, in the same week. Following their mutual unexpected fame and subsequent unemployment, they got in contact with one another to arrange moving to Los Angeles together.

Broski and Schauer expressed their surprise that their sleep schedules were generally the same as soon as they moved in together, how much their companionship helped them through the pandemic and how comforting living with a person who understood the different pressures of life was.

Schauer explained how uninspired the pandemic has left her and joked about the pleasures of living in an apartment with windows.

“Not to get sentimental, but having someone that lives with you that does the same job that you do and just living with another person that understands during some-

February 24, 2021

thing like a global pandemic, if I would have lived alone, I probably would’ve freaking killed myself,” Broski said.

“That is so hard, and I feel for so many people that were alone.

You can’t go out, can’t see anybody, can’t touch anybody, it’s just hard so…we’re just touching up on each other all the time.”

Broski made it quite clear that she wanted to get away from the “kombucha girl” meme and how much she wanted people to “let it die.” Despite this sentiment, she expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to be in the Sabra Hummus Super Bowl ad from 2020 and was a part of the Tide Super Bowl campaign this year.

“It’s kind of weird because the Sabra one was a full-on production,” Broski said.

“I went into this thing, and they had me wipe off my whole face of makeup, and they were like ‘we’re going to recreate the kombucha meme,’ and I was like, ‘I have done so much work to get away from that meme,’ but they really made me revert back to ground zero.

“I just don’t like hummus, but I

do like money, and I like the Super Bowl.”

Schauer also took the time to explain how she started her internet comedy career found her after she started her first YouTube channel and gained more followers on her TikTok than her Vine ever did.

She admitted that she can make something out of it all because of her YouTube and how she used to think that, after going viral, she would just disappear.

Schauer also addressed some questions related to her “how to sell pictures of your feet” fame and joked about how many more people have foot fetishes than anyone would expect.

At the end of the event, the audience members who had won meet and greets with Broski and Schauer were invited back to share their cameras and microphones, and the unlucky audience members were excused. Zach Clark, the advisor and Director of Student Activities & Assessment, also expressed his appreciation of Broski’s masterful burps throughout the night and thanked both women for their time.

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Culture

S t u d e n t s s t a y fi t w i t h S t a e fi t T r a i n i n g Business Spotlight EVA TILLICH jxsbc@iup.edu I am Eva, and I will be writing weekly about Black student businesses. Stay tuned for next week’s business spotlight.

Many IUP students have their own business, and it is important to recognize their successes and shine a spotlight on their business.

One of these businesses is Staefit Training, which is a Blackowned business that is run by

(Instagram @stae.fit_) Dontae Terry created Staefit Training to help people achieve their fitness goals.

Dontae Terry (junior, kinesiology and pre-athletic training). Staefit

Training was created about five years ago with the goal to

provide affordable and personal training.

Staefit offers a variety of workouts and exercises. The personal training program also takes place inside of the Hadley Union Building (HUB).

Staefit is branded as “a family of like-minded grinders who are willing to put the work in to crush all fitness goals.”

Terry said that he had no help with his business and created it by himself.

“I wanted to do this longterm,” Terry said.

Terry decided to come back to college to earn a degree in pre-athletic training so he can become a personal trainer. This way, he could make his business

even better and run it more effectively and efficiently.

“I worked in the business of personal training three years prior [to the creation of Staefit Training] at a franchise gym for two and a half years,” Terry said.

Terry also said he has several different certifications like Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Global certificate and a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) personal trainer certificate to work as a trainer at the moment.

If you are interested in training with Terry and becoming more athletic or healthy, you can contact Staefit Training on Instagram and Twitter at @stae.fit.

Culture

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February 24, 2021

S T A T I C s p o t l i g h t s s p e l l i n g b e e , s e l f -l o v e STATIC HALEY BROWN tbfx@iup.edu I am Haley and will be writing weekly about the upcoming events for STATIC. Stay tuned.

This week’s STATIC (Student Activity Committee) events consists of the IUP Spelling Bee, taking place Wednesday, and the Kinks & Curls event that will take place Friday.

The first ever IUP Spelling Bee will take place on Zoom. The event is completely virtual and begins at 8 p.m. Participants can either be a contestant or simply sign into the Zoom room through STATIC’s event page to watch the spellers compete.

There will be various themed rounds in which players will have to spell some of the most difficult words in the English language.

The two STATIC members in charge of the Spelling Bee are Sophie Weingrad, STATIC’s entertainment chair, and Erin Wilhelm, STATIC’s vice entertainment chair.

“Sophie and Erin searched high

(Twitter) The winner of the spelling bee will receive $50 for the Co-Op store. STATIC is also providing students that register for Kinks & Curls with hair and body kits. and low online for interesting and challenging words that would stump students,” Cassidy Krug, STATIC’s Executive Chair, said.

“Looking through the list, my personal favorite is ‘restaurateur,’ but since it’s a competition, I don’t want to give away too much.”

In order to play as a speller, participants must register on STATIC’s web page for this event in advance, but no preregistration is necessary if your sole interest is to watch the event.

“Co-Op Store gift cards will be given to the winners of the winner

bracket ($50) and loser bracket ($30), and we have a little surprise in mind for the rest of the participants,” Krug said.

On Friday, STATIC will host an event called Kinks & Curls, which aims to celebrate and embrace natural hair and skin, as well as help promote body positivity. This event will also be virtual and will take place on STATIC’s Instagram page.

“The event will take place on STATIC’s Instagram page with a combination of prerecorded video tutorials, interactive story posts and live videos,” Krug said.

“Students will learn how to use the products [in the hair and skin care kits] and celebrate [their] natural beauty.”

Participants must preregister for this event to receive hair and body care kits designed for various skin and hair types. There will be only 50 kits available, and they are firstcome, first-serve.

STATIC will contact each participant with the confirmation of kit receipt. Only IUP students with valid I-Cards can participate.

Kits can be picked up from the STATIC office (Hadley Union Building 215-216) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

The DIY kits will include products like ORS Shampoo, ORS Conditioner, Creme of Nature Deep Conditioner, Garnier Fructis Leavein Conditioner, ECO gel, Jamaican Black Castor oil, two shower caps, a peach wood comb, a peach wood pick, one spray bottle and assorted coupons to use on more hair and skin care products.

This event was introduced by Jenise Lewis, STATIC’s Cultural Events Chair. Planning for this event was started about a year ago and was planned to be in-person, but of course had to be converted

into a virtual format. Kinks & Curls is also a part of IUP’s Black History Month programming.

The event will also feature a number of national and local vendors that specialize in ethnic hair and body care.

“The national vendors that STATIC is utilizing are mostly BIPOC-centric (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), to tie into IUP’s Black History Month programming,” Krug said.

“We are also collaborating with two local Indiana businesses for this event: Grizzled Teddy Co. and Hair 4 Everyone. We are also patronizing That African Girl. All three of these businesses are owned and operated by IUP alumni.

“We are very excited to be working with these companies in empowering students to embrace their natural hair and skin.”

If you are looking for some educational fun in the coming week and would like to enjoy some tricky spellings or some hair, skin and body positivity, join STATIC’s Spelling Bee or consider promoting self-love through the appreciation of hair, skin and body types of all kinds during the Kinks & Curls event.

Sound is speeding, cameras are rolling, IUP-TV is back for some spring action CAIO GOMES Staff Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, IUP-TV is ready to restart its programming for the spring semester.

Founded in 1975, IUP-TV is a 24hour cable television station owned and operated by the department of communications media. Nearly all of the production is student-run, from the early stages of writing to the late stages of editing.

According to IUP’s website, IUPTV has a reach of around 100,000 houses, and all of the shows are widely available on social media and YouTube. For the spring semester, most of the programming will remain the same as fall, although the possibility of new shows is not discarded yet.

“We have six shows that are currently running,” IUP-TV’s manager, Hayley Woodside (senior, communications media) said in a recruitment meeting on Zoom.

“Maybe seven by the end of the semester, we will see, but currently,

(Twitter) “Animation Nation,” IUP-TV’s newest show, focuses on anime. it is at six.”

One of these six shows is “Animation Nation,” a show focused on everything anime. The show has been airing for only one year, so it is one of the channel’s more recent additions. Although there is a bigger focus on anime, they also talk about other types of animation sometimes.

“Animation Nation” is not the only IUP-TV show that talks about television. “Press Start,” IUP-TV’s video games-focused show, also touches on the matter every now

and then. “’Press Start’ is mainly concerned with video games,” said Gaige Tarris (junior, communications media), one of “Press Start’s” producers. “We play games, we talk about them news-wise, we do skits…[but] since there is not a show about media, like movies and TV shows, we sometimes talk about them [as well]. But it’s mainly video games.”

While the “Press Start” folks talk about digital games, the “Big Hit” guys cover everything relat-

ed to physical sports. They range from covering the most traditional ones such as football, baseball and basketball to more niche-focused sports like NASCAR. In fall 2019, they challenged IUP’s hockey team to a friendly shootout, and although they lost, the “Big Hit” guys claimed they had fun.

If “Press Start” and the “Big Hit” are shows about games, “Crimson Clash” differs by being a gameshow.

Described as IUP’s version of “Family Feud,” the show is the most recent addition to the channel’s programming. In the show,

groups of three compete on different types of games to win prizes.

Moving away from gaming in general, “Saturday Night Live”-inspired “Witticism” takes a look at news with a more light-hearted fashion. The show is heavy on skits poking fun of various things such as the petty dramas of celebrity lives and wild “Florida man” stories that sound nearly unbelievable.

Last but not least, there is “Indie Rocker’s Ball,” IUP-TV’s MTV-inspired show. It is the oldest running show and focuses on everything music – not just indie as the name suggests.

“We do music news, music reviews, play music related games,” Paige Kreisher (senior, communications media) said. “We typically have live music performances, but because we are in pandemic times, we don’t want to bring outside people into the studio.”

Any student in good academic stand that is interested in joining IUP-TV may do so by contacting station manager Hayley Woodside at ddly@iup.edu for more information regarding the application process.

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Culture

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February 24, 2021

Unlike Coldplay, you do not need to leave Indiana to be lovers in Japan Food Review CAIO GOMES hysbc@iup.edu I am Gordon Ramsay’s biggest threat. I like discussing politics and making music puns.

(This article contains opinion) Located on Indian Springs Road, the Umi Japanese Steakhouse is a popular spot in Indiana, as an alternative to the more traditional restaurants in town.

Unlike most restaurants, Umi is not interesting just because of the good food. The performance by the waiter is also a key factor as of why many enjoy visiting the place.

This is because Umi is a hibachi restaurant. Coming the Japanese word for “fire bowl,” a hibachi restaurant is a type of Japanese steakhouse in which the food is

(Facebook) Umi primarily serves a variety of hibachi seafood options. grilled on the client’s table.

Because of this, many have included fun performances by the waiter to entertain the client while they are cooking.

“Umi is such a great place to go with your friends and have a good time,” John Kroh (freshman, premed) said. “I’ve gone to Umi’s four times in the first semester alone.”

The hibachi options were mostly seafood related, as seafood

compromises a significant portion of Japanese cuisine. A waiter said that the hibachi scallops were the most popular type. Other seafood hibachis include shrimp, lobster and salmon.

For people who cannot eat or do not enjoy sea food, there are other hibachi options, such as New York strip, filet mignon and chicken.

For vegetarians, there is a hibachi vegetable option.

If you are the type of person who cannot choose, Umi offers a “Combination lunch.” For a combination lunch, a person can choose two of the hibachi options for only $13.95.

Of course, the combination hibachi compromises of two halves of each option, as opposed to two full sets.

“I chose the combination of shrimp and chicken because both seem so good to me,” Brandon Kimmel (freshman, exploratory) said. “I really like that we can just combine the meals because some restaurants would’ve just charged you for two meals if you wanted two meals.”

Although the hibachi is considered the “charm” of the restaurant, there are other options for people who want a rather quicker meal or who simply do not want the “cooking in front of you” mambo-jambo.

The menu has a wide range of sushi and sashimi with prices varying from $16 to $45.

The most expansive is the chef’s choice of 10 pieces of sashimi and

10 pieces of sushi. This option is deemed as “for couples” and is generally splitable, which makes it more affordable than ordering separately.

Just like hibachi, there are other á la carte alternatives for people who do not eat seafood. The most popular ones are the teriyaki chicken and the teriyaki New York strip.

They also offer vegetable udon and vegetable tempuras for vegetarians. Prices for these options range from $11 to $20.

“While I think those alternative options sound good, I don’t think I’ll order them,” Maddison Reddick (freshman, pre-med) said. “The hibachi is a 10 out of 10, and the performance by the waiters make it really funny and entertaining, so every time I go to Umi’s, I just prefer getting a hibachi even if it takes a little bit longer to cook the food.”

Because of its alternative style cooking, Umi Japanese Steakhouse is a popular spot in Indiana.

E v e rlife

The Disney girls from Indiana Local Bands LANE LANNAN ffpcc@iup.edu I am in the top .001 percent of The Beach Boys’ fans on Spotify.

I also like playing games and vibing with my party lights.

Everyone has heard the classic songs played on Disney Channel, but not everyone knows that Indiana contributed to those songs.

Everlife was started in 1997 by Amber, Sarah and Julia Ross in Indiana. Amber covered guitar, and Sarah was on drums, which left Julia to cover keyboards and act as the group’s lead vocalist.

The sisters eventually, through members of another band called Seventh Day Slumber, connected with record companies based in Nashville. This led to the band’s first album, recorded in 2004.

After gaining more traction, the trio was noticed by Phil Guerini, an executive at Walt Disney Records.

This event is what sparked Everlife to join the ranks of the Disney music scene, as well as the opportunity for them to record more songs.

The song “Find Yourself in You,” which featured nationwide airing through Radio Disney, was recorded in 2005.

“It is a good song with an encouraging message”, Gaby Allison (freshman, exploratory) said.

“However, it is a little too rock for me, personally.”

Allison went on to say that she did not know the song prior to being asked about it, but nevertheless said that she would not mind listening to it again. Allison also said that the sound of the song reminded her of something from Disney.

Following the success of “Find Yourself in You,” Everlife recorded and released a full album. The self-titled album, “Everlife,” was released in 2007 and peaked at No. 121 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

The band’s most streamed song from that album, according

Sisters Sarah Ross (right), Julia Ross (middle) and Amber Ross created Everlife in 1997. to Spotify, is “Go Figure.”

“I thought [‘Go Figure’] was a good song,” Isaac Ryer (freshman, nursing) said. “My general impression of it was that it was from a Disney show.”

Ryer continued that by saying that “Go Figure” reminded him of a theme song that would play before a Disney original series.

Coincidentally, “Go Figure” was used as a theme song for a Disney movie, called “Go Figure,” which was about figure skating.

Following this success, as well as playing live for Disney with artists like Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers, Everlife

moved away from their Disney performances but still maintained a good standing with the Disney music executives.

The Everlife trio spent some time in their post-Disney career be recording more songs. This culminated in the band’s final album, “At the End of Everything,” which was released in 2013. The standout single for this album, “Coming Home,” was released just before the album in late 2012.

“I like the snapping beat of the song (‘Coming Home’),” Joey Semetkoskey (freshman, accounting) said.

“It is a solid song, just not

(Facebook)

really my genre, but I actually enjoy it.”

Semetkoskey went on to say that the bridge and chorus was his favorite part of the song. He continued this by saying that the beat of the song stood out to him, as well as saying that there were no parts of the song that he disliked.

Despite their moderate level of success, Everlife broke up after their 2013 album. According to Spotify, the band still has 37,426 monthly listeners. So, if you want that classic Disney original feeling, stream Everlife for a piece of the past.

Sports

Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu Lead Sportswriter: Austin Smith@A.S.Smith@iup.edu

IUP Cross Country happy to be out competing again ‘Being back out and just having the uniform on and competing was the most important thing’ Jeffery Hart

Sports Editor J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Nov. 9, 2019, was the last time Sam Lenze (senior, chemistry), Head Coach Joey Zins and the rest of the cross country team took to the competition.

The IUP cross country teams hosted the Welcome Back Mini-Invitational on Sunday, complete with four schools participating and 53 total runners.

“It was just a crazy week leading up to the race,” Zins said. “You’re just wondering, ‘Can we actually get to the starting line? Can we get to 1 o’clock on Sunday and have the race happen?’

“We were supposed to race on Saturday. We had to push it back a day due to weather, and we were supposed to have two other teams come here.

“When the race started, I was like, ‘Oh my God, we actually got here. We are actually having a race for the athletes.’ It’s not how I ever would have imagined it, but it’s something because they’ve had nothing for a year.”

The competition was originally going to be held at IUP’s South Campus Course. The meet was moved to Blue Spruce Park due to an accumulation of snow on IUP’s course.

It was an unusual day for the team as they ran the race on the paved roads. Even though the sun was shining, parts of the course remained icy, and the grounds,

14

(IUP Athletics) Despite poor conditions, cross country had fun competing for the first time in more than a year. concerningly, remained open to cars.

Zins weighed in on the unfavorable running conditions.

“Part of what gave us the idea was in 2019, one of the Division I regions, the Northeast Region, there was so much snow, it was actually in Buffalo, and they had to move the race to a 10K road race and 6K for the women from the grass to the roads because the course was completely un-runnable.

“So, they had a road event, so that kind of got me thinking like, ‘OK, obviously, our course isn’t going to be ready. We didn’t get the meeting that I was hoping for.’ I just thought maybe we would have one three- or four-day stretch where it warmed up to about 45, and

some of the snow would melt, and we could try to plow and get the course ready. We knew it would be sloppy, but it has just been like this.

It’s not runnable.”

Even though the conditions might not have been the greatest, runners like Lenze and Marco Cardone (freshman, political science) came into the competition excited to just compete again.

“Once we got out here and I saw the team in the uniform, things got real very fast, and it was just awesome to see everybody out here hyped up and ready to burn,” Lenze said. “No matter what the results were, we were going to go out there and give it our best, and that’s a complete feeling than any time trial, so that was really, really awesome to see.”

“I wasn’t focused on anything else other than the other people you’re racing against,” Cardone said. “It doesn’t matter about the stuff around the atmosphere as long as you got your course, and you know where you’re going.”

Cardone finished second in the men’s race with a time of 16:16.2, and Lenze took third in 16:22.6 as the Crimson Hawks claimed the team victory with 22 points.

They placed their top five runners among the top seven finishers.

The IUP women finished second of three official squads. The Crimson Hawks had five finishers inside the top-10 overall. Jessica Jones (grad student, mathematics) and Brianna Herr (senior, dietetics) had big days, finishing second and third. Jones finished with a time of 19:32.7, while Herr crossed the line in 19:42.5.

Even though IUP was ultimately trying to compete for a victory, Zins and his squad saw the big picture of event and placements.

“Yes, in the sense that you are

Sam Lenze

February 24, 2021

having a race, so they do matter, but I think getting back out there and just having the experience of racing and doing what you love to do, and what you’ve been doing since you were in middle school or ninth grade or whenever you started in cross country,” Zins said.

“Being back out and just having the uniform on and competing was the most important thing. But you know it’s a race, so we wanted to do well. We wanted to see where people were at. I know if you talk to any of them, they will say that they all wanted to do well.”

Overall, Sunday was a successful day in which this squad could get back to doing what they love most: running.

There is a meet tentatively being planned for California University of Pennsylvania; no date has been planned yet. This invitational will set the precedent for future cross country events during COVID-19.

Regardless, of the results, the team was just ecstatic to be out competing again.

Jessica Jones

Sports

February 24, 2021

Sports

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IUP Softball ready to pitch new season on renovated field AUSTIN SMITH

Lead Sportswriter A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

“Strike three, and it’s gone” will be heard very soon at newly renovated Ruth Podbielski Field starting March 5 for the IUP women’s softball team.

The Crimson Hawks will be swinging a series against their rivals to start off the season against, Slippery Rock. They will play a doubleheader on both March 5 and 6.

After Slippery Rock, they will play California University of Pennsylvania the following weekend and then have a date with Mercyhurst the week after. With some big games coming up, how prepared are the Hawks for the season quickly approaching and what did they do?

“The pandemic had challenges we faced, but we did many Zoom calls in spring 2020 to talk and chat as a team,” coach Shawna Bellaud said. “As far as training, the team was given different ideas of what they could do at home with what was open.”

Luckily for athletics, technology like Zoom facilitates communication, which is one of the most crucial things to do as a college

team. Any kind of training is also very crucial to success, whether that is watching old film or going back over old training regimens.

Like any student-athlete, everybody is looking forward to their upcoming season. Bellaud and the team are looking forward to competition again.

“The sense of normalcy to be on the field again as a team is exciting,” she said. “Having the student-athletes get to do what they love is what I am most looking forward to.”

Meghan Grill (freshman, psychology) also was looking very passionate towards the season as a freshman herself.

“The biggest thing I am looking forward to this season is the ability to compete,” Grill

said. “The team and I have worked hard during the off-season, given our current situation.

It is going to be exciting to apply our skills and seeing the progress we have made.

“Our team has a lot of fun during practice, and we are ready to take that energy to the field.”

That’s why students play sports: They have that driven and hearted passion for it, and nothing is better than seeing a player back in action from where it all started. The women’s team is going to have a roster this season with a healthy mix of freshman and veteran talent.

This will benefit the team tremendously as it adds a sense of wisdom and guidance.

“We have great leaders that the underclassmen can look up towards,” Bellaud said. “It is great to give our squad depth that has not been there in the past.”

The younger core will be able to model their older teammates and pick up tips and tricks from them. Just like the roster of a team has an impact on they can perform, the schedule can be a convincing factor as well and certain opponents can stick out.

“I would say going into this season we are looking at everyone with the same respect,”

Bellaud said. “The pandemic has made challenges for each university, and we are just going out there to play our game.”

The Hawks have the perfect mindset, as every team during this pandemic has faced challenges and obstacles they had to overcome.

The season for the Hawks will have all kinds of talent that they will face and struggles they will encounter, but they do look to see themselves at a good spot.

“If the pandemic allows us, I feel confident with this group of female student-athletes to put us at the top of our division,” Bellaud said.

The pandemic is something that is going to still be a factor for a while yet, but if things go as planned, the Crimson Hawks will look for high expectations which is the biggest reason why Hawk Nation has superior student-athletes.

For newer players like Grill and the rest of the freshmen, the pan-

demic is the biggest challenge they have faced as a college athlete is their first year.

Being a Hawk means having that superior mindset, so what did the freshmen Hawks learn?

“One thing I have learned throughout this experience is the importance of appreciation,” Grill said. “As someone who graduated during the pandemic, I missed the opportunity to play my senior year of softball.

“As I entered college, I developed a deeper love for the game, my teammates and the opportunity to play. I have learned to appreciate and compete during every practice like it could be my last. This mindset has helped my coaches, my teammates, and I develop a fire that I look forward to seeing in the upcoming season.”

With Grill’s words of wisdom in mind, now is time to dig out the baseball gloves and hats, and you might want to bring the shades out as the Crimson Hawks’ season will be bright.

February 24, 2021

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Sports

Memorial Field House renovations completed

(Natalie Stanton/The Penn) After the initial pandemic shutdown, the Memorial Field House indoor auxilary gym underwent some renovations. The new rennovations will give IUP athletes a full indoor space reimagined with a turf playing surface laid down to replace the old rubberized flooring. The facility measures 35 yards long by 25 yards wide with a 12-foot high usable wall space. The renovated practice facility is part of an overall redesign of the Memorial Field House by the IUP Athletic Department. Last month, a fueling station for student-athletes opened in the lobby of the Field House, adding a nutritional component as well as a new-look entrance for visitors.