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VOL. 113 NO. 31

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The Penn

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE GRADUATING

SPORTS | PAGE 17

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The Penn // INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Cover Photo By Steven Langdon Jr

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EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Steven Langdon Jr. News Editor Heather Bair Culture Editor Eva Tillich Sports Editor Jeff Hart

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STUDENTS DECIDE ON BEST ASSIGNMENTS FOR FINALS WEEK

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IUP TENNIS WINS PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THIRD TIME SINCE 2017

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Lead Culture Writer Haley Brown

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NEWS

News Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu

There is a new sheriff in town

SGA president passes on legacy to next generation, new president selected GABRIELLA BYRNE Staff Writer bmwx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The new Student Government Association (SGA) president was a shoe-in for the role.

Steven Lomax (sophomore, political science), previously holding a position as the director of internal affairs, ran uncontested as he was approached to run by the former president of the SGA, Alexander Fefolt (senior, history/pre-law and political science).

“After the elections closed, I called my mom and told her of the news,” Lomax said. “She was overjoyed and excited at the news and expressed how proud and amazed she is at the student leader I have become in my college experience.”

Lomax has experience with leading and directing student senators of their responsibilities and connecting them with offices or personnel on campus as needed.

He additionally worked with the executive board on their maintenance and advocation of student interests like the Pass/ Fail policy and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program.

With a familiarity in student advocacy, Lomax first hesitated to apply for the position because of the magnitude of the president’s influence.

“At first, I did not recognize myself to lead an organization and the student body simultaneously,” Lomax said.

“After self-seeking reflection, I determined that this was the right path to continue toward, and the vision I have for students and the university could manifest through the role of president.”

With his position as president, Lomax appointed officers to other positions like public relations, director of internal affairs and director of external affairs, which

News

is still vacant.

Lomax gave a speech of gratitude towards the officers and senators graduating in May. “During my debate night speech, I remarked that I believe in ‘fostering an environment of diversity in action,’” Lomax said.

“What this looks like from my perspective is allowing and encouraging a university model of inclusive decisions that [implement] and provide growth and connection to all students attending IUP.” The qualifications to apply for president require 12 weeks of attendance in meetings as well as meeting GPA, conduct and university conditions.

Candidates for SGA positions are selected through a university-wide student ballot in which students choose the one most suited for each position.

The election lasts four to five days on Crimson Connect, and then those with the most votes are announced. They were sworn into their new positions April 27, the last general assembly meeting for the SGA. Fefolt commentated on Lomax taking this responsibility and his advice to the new president.

“Steven is an experienced and skilled leader, and I look forward to seeing him excel as the IUP student body president,” Fefolt said. “The hardest part about leadership on that visible level is being comfortable with making mistakes.

“But if you can use your mistakes to improve yourself and your abilities, you will go grow into a more experienced leader.”

Lomax spoke highly of Fefolt’s help in transitioning him to the new leadership role.

“The guidance and support from my predecessor, Alex Fefolt, was tremendous,” Lomax said. “In the start of the fall semester, Alex began to ask and prepare me for the role he knew I could achieve.

“I could not thank him enough

for the foundation he laid.”

On the topic of his leaving, Fefolt talked about the difficulty of saying goodbye to those he became close to during his time as a prominent figure in the organization.

“It’s bittersweet to leave SGA after three years of being heavily involved with the group,” Fefolt said. “During that time, I have gotten close with the other members of SGA and our advisers, and I will miss working with them to support IUP students.

“I’m very proud of the legacy that we have created together over these past three years.”

Fefolt spoke to those wanting to accomplish similar feats but being unsure of where to start.

“For students who are working to enhance their leadership abilities in student organizations, I would advise [you] realize the potential and power you have in your voice as a student,” Lomax said.

“Acknowledge what your organizations core values are and who you represent, so that the reward of hard work and determination is not lost.”

Lomax warned that change requires time, but slow progress is still progress. The tough times that come are the defining moments, so it is important to be passionate about what can be done for others.

As the SGA acts as a voice for the student body of IUP, Fefolt offered advice for students from the perspective of someone that created a legacy with this organization.

“I would just add to the students reading this article that you can make your time at IUP so much more fulfilling by getting involved,” Fefolt said.

“Find a student group or activity that connects with you and get involved.

“Trust me, it will be the best decision you can make in college.”

May 5, 2021

Steven Lomax (top) will take over for Alex Fefolt (bottom) as Student Government Association president.

(IUP)

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May 5, 2021

News

Discussions, exams, projects, oh my!

Students decide on best assignments for finals week EMILY HEFFELFINGER

Contributing Writer xvky@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Most IUP students and professors prefer final projects as opposed to traditional final exams.

Finals week is a stressful time for many students, but the COVID-19 pandemic puts on even more stress during this week.

Different professors use different methods while giving out finals. Some have a final exam, a final project or even a final discussion. This semester, things are done differently because most of these classes are online. Therefore, some finals must be taken on Zoom.

“For upper-level classes, I typically prefer a final project or presentation where students can develop their own ideas based on the material in my class and the body of work over their academic tenure,” criminology professor Eric Kocian said. “This affords them the chance to showcase their presentation skills, which is necessary in the field of criminology.”

Journalism and public relations professor Laurie Miller plans cumulative final exams or projects, as most professors at IUP do. For her intensive writing classes, she usually assigns a final paper or a revised portfolio.

“In my former life as a journalist, I learned that the best interviews with sources for articles are faceto-face; you gain so much more than answers to the questions you are seeking,” Miller said. “Nonverbal communications such as facial expressions and body language can tell you a lot.”

Kocian and Miller both prefer in-person instructions and discussions.

“I prefer to have all my classes in-person, as that is where real learning takes place and students can better interact with the professor and one another,” Kocian said.

“Zoom is good here and there, but the quality of output and class instruction is certainly not the same.”

“While Zoom has been a useful tool during the pandemic, in better times, I would prefer to do any final exams or presentations in-person, in a classroom,” Miller said.

“I am really looking forward to

(The Penn Archives) Graduation in the past have been in person and this year will not be any different, with the exception of it being during COVID-19.

What to expect when you are graduating

A lot of students have finals over D2L Brightspace. being back in-person and regaining a lot of the social dynamics and interactions in class that was tough to do during COVID-19,” Kocian said.

As for the student's perspective, they feel the same way most professors do.

It is a lot harder to pay attention when classes are completely online on Zoom. Most students prefer to have their classes in-person and take their finals in a classroom, but in the end, it could be less stressful having them online.

(IUP)

“I would prefer to have a final discussion because I like to reflect on what I learned rather than just take an exam and answer questions,” Camille Meister (senior, sociology) said. “I find myself less stressed with my finals being online because I do not have to go anywhere to take them, and I can do them on my own time.”

While most classes are online, there are a few majors, like nursing, that have hybrid learning.

Some classes are held in-person, and other classes are on Zoom.

Nursing majors still must participate in clinical classes in-person, but some of the less intense classes may be online.

“I would prefer to have a final project because it is easier for me to complete,” Kaitlyn Repos (junior, nursing) said. “It would be easier for my nursing classes to have a final exam, but in my elective classes, I would want to have a final project.

“With everything online, I am definitely more stressed because I think it is harder for me to figure out when things are due, and I have trouble locating my assignments on D2L.” While finals week can be stressful to some and relaxing to others, it is a time to showcase to your teachers what you have learned throughout the year.

Good luck, IUP.

HEATHER BAIR News Editor zzzx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The 2021 Graduation Commencement is just around the corner, and staff and students are making the final preparations for the event.

For the spring and winter 2020 graduation ceremonies, both were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was announced in March that the spring 2021 graduation commencement ceremony would be held in-person, with the different colleges separated.

Originally, only two tickets were given to seniors graduating; however, it was later changed to three.

There are currently 1,720 students graduating this semester.

Those graduating in August are also encouraged to participate.

“The Commencement committee has done an incredible job in their thinking and planning, balancing health and safety concerns with a desire to provide an in-person recognition of our graduates,” IUP President Michael Driscoll said in an IUP press release.

To follow the CDC health and safety guildelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IUP will be hosting four separate ceremonies.

They will be held in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Center (KCAC).

The graduate ceremony, for students receiving their master’s and doctoral degrees, will be at 7 p.m., Friday.

Three undergraduate ceremonies will take place Saturday.

The students in the College of Education and Communications, College of Fine Arts and College of Humanities and Social Sciences will have their commencement at 8:30 a.m.

Those in the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology and the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will commence at 12:30 p.m.

Finally, those in the College of Health and Human Services will have their commencement at 4:30 p.m.

Social distancing recommendations will be addressed and followed. There is also a requirement of facial coverings or masks.

Hand sanitizer will be available at the door of the KCAC, as well as masks for those who do not have one.

For those unable to attend, the graduation ceremony will be broadcast live on IUP’s YouTube channel. Links to the broadcast are available at iup.edu/commencement.

After the ceremony, the video recorded during the livestream will be available for watching anytime.

Each livestream will begin 15 minutes before the actual start.

“Commencement is a very special time for our university,” Driscoll said. “It’s very important to our graduates and their families, and it’s also a highlight for everyone here who has watched our students work hard to achieve this important goal.”

May 5, 2021

News

Students, professors share best advice given, received at college AMARI WALKER Staff Writer jqtbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP In order to help us all through finals week, some professors and students have shared some advice that can keep us motivated as some finish up the spring semester while others prepare for graduation “Be curious,” Dr. Lynn Botelho (history) said. “Try new things. Take classes on subjects that you aren’t familiar with. This is the one time in your life when the world comes to you.

“It is probably the one time in your life when you have the most free time.”

She advises this because she knows that a 40-hour work week gig in the doesn’t always leave you with lots of spare time.

“So… Try a classical music concert,” she said. “Go to a football game. Go to the art galleries.

You might like it, or you’ll find out that you don’t, but at least you’ll know.”

“I would say that it is important to be flexible and open to change,” Dr. Dawn Smith-Sherwood (Spanish) said. “These last three semesters have proven the adage, ‘The only thing constant is change.’”

“The best advice I received from my economics professor was how to study,” Cynthia Walker (senior, human resources) said. “She

(The Penn Archives) Students and professors often hear and give advice. provided me this advice because she noticed that I would take notes on all the material that was assigned to me and informed that it was information overload and not all of it was pertinent to taking my quizzes, exams, assignments and class participation.”

After being given this advice, Walker’s professor demonstrated how to skim the textbook for information she discussed in the classroom and apply it to her assignments.

“She also told me that learning how a professor teaches was important and to be flexible with various teaching techniques,” Walker said.

With this advice, Walker was motivated to manage her time

more efficiently, which resulted in a positive outcome that was effective in increasing her knowledge and grades.

As finals approach, students are also preparing to say goodbye to IUP’s senior class of 2021. In addition to the advice about how to deal with school, some professors also provided advice for seniors who are moving forward in their lives.

“Get on the Hustle Bus and drive,” Bothelo said. “Make opportunities for your advancement by going the extra mile and connecting with a wide variety of different types of peoples. Trust your IUP education. You are ready.”

“We should remember that, though we have learned a good

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The Penn announces new Editor-in-Chief Courtesy of The Penn A new Editor-in-Chief of The Penn will take office Friday.

Jeffery Hart will take over the vacant position, according to The Penn Student Advisor Mirza Zukic.

Hart’s previous positions include sports editor, lead sportswriter and staff writer at The Penn.

He also worked with the set-up operations at the IUP Student Co-Op. “This has been a tremendous and cathartic experience for me,” Hart said. I have been aspired to be Editor-in-Chief since my freshman year.

thing in our studies, what we have really learned is how to learn more,” Smith-Sherwood said.

Smith-Sherwood also said how she learns new things every day.

Her advice is “to always approach life with the mindset of a student. Inquiry will lead you in many new and exciting ways.”

This was only possible because of the people that helped me along the journey.”

Hart is entering his senior year and will graduate in December with a bachelor of science in communications media.

Whether you are graduating from or continuing your education at IUP, this advice is provided to help you defeat any and all obstacles that you may face in your next journey.

Good luck during finals week and best wishes to the graduating seniors.

Students make IUP colorful with Chalk the Walk event

Students brought some life and color back to IUP’s campus with the Chalk the Walk event that happened April 27.

(Natalie Stanton/The Penn)

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May 5, 2021

News

The position has been filled Student chosen to serve on IUP Council of Trustees BENJAMIN BRUMBAUGH

Staff Writer msqy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

An IUP student has been appointed to serve as a student trustee on the IUP Council of Trustees.

Maura King (sophomore, early childhood/special education) was approved to serve in this position by the Pennsylvania State System board of Governors at its April 15 meeting.

King’s term as student trustee will begin when Abigaelle Vertil (senior, psychology), who is the current student trustee, graduates in May. She will serve in this position until she graduates in spring 2023.

“The Council of Trustees, the university’s main governing body, has one student member,” according to tinyurl.com/n67r6y7n “To be eligible for this position, a student must be in good academic and student conduct standing and must have significant leadership experience and strong communication skills, with an expected graduation date no sooner than two years from the start of his or her appointment.

“He or she will be appointed yearly by the chair of the Council of Trustees to serve on trustee committees and other committees as appropriate, serve on the Student Congress Executive Board as ex-officio, attend quarterly meetings of the Council of Trustees, participate in commencement ceremonies and other official functions of the university and chair the next search committee for the student trustee position.”

King applied for this position due to her passion for education and her desire to be an advocate for the students of IUP. “I applied for the position because of my love of education and IUP,” King said. “As an education major,

(IUP) Maura King (left) has been appointed to serve on IUP’s Council of Trustees. She is a sophomore in early childhood/special education and was approved at the April 15 meeting.

I greatly value the importance of education and the positive impact that it has on families, schools, and communities.”

“Also, I want to share my enthusiasm and support for the university and the students by being a student advocate,” she said.

She was taken aback but excited when she discovered that she had been selected for the position.

“When I first learned that I was selected for the student trustee position I was very surprised, excited and honored.”

King is an active member of the IUP

community both academically and as a student leader.

“At IUP, I am involved in the Cook Honors College, IUP Ambassadors and the Catholic Student Association,” King said.

“In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, playing piano, crafting, and being outdoors,” she said. “I also really enjoy playing soccer and watching football and basketball.”

King credits IUP’s education department with being an integral part of her academic and personal journey.

“The education department has really helped me in my personal, academic, and professional journey.”

“The education professors truly lead by example in their teaching practices and have prepared me with the skills and qualities needed to be an effective teacher and leader,” King said. “Specifically, Dr. [Anson] Long and Dr. [Joann] Migyanka have been very supportive towards my personal and educational growth.”

King has plans to advance her education and follow her professional dreams of teaching children after she graduates from IUP. “I will graduate in the spring of 2023,” she said. “After graduat-

ing from IUP, I plan to find an elementary teaching job close to home and obtain my master's degree in education.”

More information about the IUP Council of Trustees and the student trustee position can be found at iup.edu/trustees/.

May 5, 2021

News

(Heather Bair/The Penn) Students are preparing for graduation across IUP and beyond.

Students share thoughts about in-person graduation ISABELLA BENSON Staff Writer hpjy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP After a grueling three semesters of online learning, many IUP students are excited for this spring’s in-person graduation.

“I will be attending in-person graduation because I feel like this is something that just isn’t the same done via video,” Alyssa Podrasky (senior, human resource management) said.

According to the IUP website, undergraduate degree ceremonies will take place Saturday. All events will take place at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC). Each graduating undergrad student will receive three tickets for their guests, and master’s and doctoral graduates will receive four tickets. This was done to limit the amount of people in the area.

Along with an in-person graduation, students are also offered a Celebration Toast on Saturday.

Students are excited for this year's graduation to feel “legit,” despite the COVID-19 pandemic still in full effect.

“I am attending in-person graduation because I think it will make graduation feel more real, and my parents are excited to see me walk across the stage,” Hannah Brant (senior, biology) said.

Last year, many schools decided on virtual graduation as the

country was in the heat of the pandemic. Students and their parents listened to their names get called online; it just wasn’t the “real deal.”

“I will be attending in-person graduation,” Samantha Gabe (senior, nursing) said. “I have worked very hard for this moment, and I want something to show.”

This is another reason why students are thrilled to be offered an in-person graduation. After working hard for four straight years, taking hard exams and anything else that comes along with a college career, they don’t want another graduation ceremony online. Walking across a stage really boosts a student's confidence after four or more years of being at a university.

“I will be attending in-person graduation,” Brianna Miller (senior, human development) said. “I’ve worked very hard, and my parents are also expecting me to walk across the stage.”

Parents are eager to see their children walk. Although, some students would rather stay in for this one.

“I will not be attending in-person graduation,” Amanda Ceccarelli (senior, journalism and public relations) said. “But I still bought a cap and gown for the memories.”

Students can only hope that online graduation ceremonies will continue to be a thing of the past for the upcoming years.

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May 5, 2021

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'These are of no use to journalism majors' IUP offering journalism major, no journalism classes HEATHER BAIR News Editor zzzx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP EVA TILLICH Culture Editor jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Ever dreamed of declaring a major that doesn’t exist? At IUP next year, you can.

Of the many changes announced as part of the NextGen project, the near-total dissolution of the journalism and public relations department was one of them.

However, incoming freshmen will still be allowed to declare a journalism and public relations major.

“It doesn’t bother me anymore that I’m losing my job,” Dr. Michele Papakie, chairwoman of the journalism and public relatiosn department, said. “What bothers me is that the administration is still telling current and prospective students that they can major in journalism and public relations at IUP. I guess the truth is that they can. It exists on paper in the communications media department.”

No journalism courses are available in the summer or fall.

In the course guide for 20212022, there will be no journalism and public relations classes under the JRNL prefix. Instead, they will be available under the COMM prefix. These classes include:

• COMM 325 Gender in Media • COMM 407 Television Feature Production • COMM 470 Media Management and Sales

summer 2021 • COMM 271 Beginning Photography • COMM 303 Screenplay Writing • COMM 477 Freelancing and Entrepreneurship

fall 2021 • COMM 270 Sports Communication • COMM 303 Scriptwriting: Short Film

(Steven Langdon Jr./The Penn)

Cutline

“The chairperson of the communications media department, Dr. Gail Wilson, and I spent the better part of 2020 planning to merge the journalism and public relations department with the communications media department,” Papakie said.

Instead, with the department being nixed, students are able to take communications media courses as a substitute for journalism courses.

However, there is one problem.

The communications media courses do not offer writing-intensive courses that aspiring journalists need.

The plan created by Papakie and Wilson would have kept those writing-intensive courses.

“That plan, which had been approved by the provost, would have retained the writing-intensive courses journalism and public relations majors need to be competent in their fields,” Papakie said.

“It would have been fantastic for current and future students.”

Also in October, that plan was nixed as well.

“The administration blamed the COVID-19 pandemic,” Papakie said.

The writing courses for journalism are now down to two: screenplay writing and short-film scriptwriting.

“These are of no use to journalism majors,” Papakie said.

The changes also happened amidst IUP’s announcement of a new initiative, called NextGen. “Under the NextGen initiative, the journalism and public affairs major and minor will be moved from the College of Humanities

and Social Sciences to the College of Education and Communications,” said Erica Frenzel, IUP’s president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF).

However, students are not receiving all the information needed.

“But what they aren’t telling students is that there is only one journalism professor left to teach it, and he isn’t scheduled to teach

any of the major’s courses.

“Students who believe they will be taught how to write journalistically, and practice public relations will find no such curriculum at IUP in the summer or the fall.”

Announced in October, 82 professors at IUP received retrenchment letters. Four of those belonged to the professors of IUP’s journalism and public relations department.

With the retrenchment of four out of five of those professors, the journalism and public relations department would cease to exist at IUP. The letter stated that those professors’ last days would be June 4, 2021.

Since then, more than half of the retrenchment letters sent by the university have been revoked; however, 37 remain. Of those 37, they include three journalism and public relations professors.

The four retrenched journalism and public relations professors are Papakie, Dr. Stanford Mukasa, Dr. Erick Lauber and Professor Randy Jesick.

Dr. Laurie Miller, also a journalism department professor, announced her retirement at the end of the spring 2021 semester prior to retrenchment letters being sent.

Lauber’s letter was rescinded, and he will be returning in the fall to teach two communications media courses.

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May 5, 2021

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IUP graduates of The Penn reflect on time spent at IUP

Steven Langdon Jr. - Editor-in-Chief Throughout my four years, I have learned more than I thought. My experiences with clubs and activities has helped me find my true passion. Special thanks to Randy Jesick and Dr. B. Gail Wilson for pushing me, and helping me in my career. Finally, I’d like to thank Heather Bair for pushing me to become greater, becoming my true love and becoming my favoite memory in college.

Heather Bair - News Editor IUP has completely changed my life. Get involved as much as possible, and get out of your comfort zone. Also, be open to new possibilities. I found the love of my life at IUP in Steven Langdon Jr. And, without the support of Mo at The Penn, I’d never would be here today. Thank you to both of you for pushing me far beyond what I thought my capabilities were.

Teddy Jeannette - Graphic Designer My advice for incoming freshmen would be to get involved early. The sooner you join a club or organization, the more experience you get and the longer you get to spend with them.

Megan Donny - Staff Writer IUP has given me so many experiences and opportunities in the last four years that I wouldn’t have received anywhere else. Dr. Erick Lauber and Randy Jesick were both crucial in developing my knowledge and fostering my passion for the public relations industry.

My advice would be to always seek out and seize new opportunities.

Marty Weaver - Copy Editor Randy Jesick is probably the best educator I’ve ever had. It goes to show that sometimes, you don’t need a fancy PowerPoint or Adobe experience to cultivate an inclusive classroom environment. Though, the lack of the Oxford comma does wound me deeply.

Autumn Dorsey - Photo Editor I can honestly say coming to IUP has changed my life forever. I found my passion here, and in pursuing that, it has put me in rooms I never could have imagined. Something I’ll never forget is professors constantly telling me to get involved. Trust me, it will change your life if you do. It changed mine. My advice for inOlivia Carbone - Staff Writer coming students, especially communications My time at IUP has been some of the best students, is don’t sleep on Dr. Lenze. years of my life. I can’t wait to return and complete my master’s degree here in the fall.

I have made so many great memories and can’t wait to make more. Enjoy your undergraduate career; it flies.

Opinion (kidzworld)

What the editors’ plans are for summer 1. Editor-In-Chief, Steven Langdon Jr

This summer I will be completing my communications media degree by doing my internship. I am a video production intern for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, AAA team of the New York Yankees. After that, I hope to move to Philadelphia with my friend.

Finally, I hope to get my COVID-19 vaccines so I hopefully do not have to worry about the pandemic. It will be weird not to go back to school come the fall since I cannot remember a time I did not go the school. I welcome the change and cannot wait to get into my career.

It has been a long time coming but I could finally say “school’s out forever.”

also spend time with my boyfriend and my cat Richard (who is my best friend).

4. Sports Editor, Jeffery Hart

Plans for summer: Work at my internship with MassMutual. Plan for my upcoming wedding. Go camping on the weekends with my parents. Training and working on things for The Penn. Spending a lot of time with the love of my life.

5. Copy Editor, Marty Weaver

I’m going to spend lots of time cuddling my kitty, Jane Austen, and cooking while trying desperately not to fall into an existential pit of despair from job-hunting during a global pandemic. In all seriousness, I cannot wait to head to my family’s cabin in Sullivan County and take a hike. Get some sunshine, y’all – as much as is possible in Western Pennsylvania.

2. News Editor, Heather Bair

Plans for Summer: Find a job and work a bit to save up money. Visit my boyfriend and have him come visit. Probably spend it like every other summer and read my way through my bookshelves to see how many I can finish in the course of three months. It is going to be weird to not return to school in the fall, but I’m excited for the future to see what happens and what it brings.

3. Culture Editor, Eva

6. Grapic Designer, Teddy Jeannette

This summer I plan on applying to jobs and hopefully becoming employed, and moving into the city.

This summer, I plan to go back to my job at Burger King where I work the headset. I work fulltime so making plans may be hard but I will try to set aside some time for myself. I will try to attend some of my friends’ graduation parties and maybe go to an amusement park with some of them. I am definitely going to the beach (Lake Erie) with my family. My sister and I love to go there and swim. I will

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7. Photo Editor, Autumn Dorsey

I’m looking forward to graduating and starting my career.

8. Video Editor, Sean Seaman

I will be working for the Washington Wild Things professional baseball team as their technical director.

May 5, 2021

Opinion

Culture

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

(The Penn Archives)

Graduate student commencement will occur Friday, and the undergraduate student commencement will occur Saturday.

Excitement is in the air

Senior Hawks prepare to take flight, leave nest LANE LANNAN Staff Writer ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP With the end of the year approaching, seniors are taking time to remember their stint at IUP. After spending several years at a college campus, it can be hard to let go of connections to people and places that were made along the way. Graduation is a time that harbors both feelings of success and happiness, as well as a feeling of sadness.

“The feeling is excitement,” Logan Massey (senior, social studies education) said, “and maybe a little regretful for not doing as well as I could have.”

Massey also said that, while tests and exams are all stressful and sometimes difficult to over-

Culture

come, he will miss being a student.

This is due to both the open nature of the professors in the history department, as well as the fact that you are constantly surrounded by those that share your interests, especially those within your major.

Other feelings generate from seniors that have had different experiences than Massey at IUP. Jennifer Miller (senior, communications media) presented her outlook on graduating and moving on.

“It feels good,” Miller said, “but also a little nerve-wracking, not knowing what exactly post-college life will be like.”

Miller said that she will miss being close to friends the most, considering that some are across the state or the country, keeping in contact could be hard to do. That being said, Miller emphasized that

she feels prepared to venture out with the education she got and is optimistic for the future.

Both Massey and Miller also revealed the plans that they have after graduating. In the case of Massey, he wishes to be able to go west for a while to hike and see the sights that are there. For him, it would also double as a chance to clear his mind and get a better picture of how he wants to carry on his life in order to find work in his major.

In Miller’s case, she is planning to move to Nashville to work at an internship for media marketing.

Taking different approach than Massey, she is going into something that will directly lead to more connections and allow her to find a job in her major.

In addition to revealing what their plans and experiences at IUP,

May 5, 2021

both Miller and Massey revealed what they most enjoyed from their time on campus.

“My favorite thing about being at IUP was all the different opportunities it opened up to me,” Miller said. “It allowed me to join many different clubs and groups such as IUP-TV.” For Massey, he most enjoyed the experiences that professors gave him. In his mind, it was great to have people genuinely care and have a desire to see him succeed and excel at his studies. Both seniors also shared some of their least favorite aspects of being on campus.

In the case of Massey, the lack of specialization in more niche areas of study were more negative.

In the case of Miller, being away from her family for long periods of time was hard.

With seniors leaving, the feelings are radiating outward to the rest of the IUP community. In the case of Joshua Allen (junior, communications media), he is preparing for his own graduation.

“I spend a lot of time in the TV studio or editing bay in Davis Hall,” Allen said. “I may not have the same access or freedom in a TV studio when I graduate, so I think I will miss that the most.”

Despite not being a senior until next school year, Allen says that he feels the education he has received, as well as the education he will get in the next year, will prepare him for his future.

The feelings of sadness and success are coming from the seniors of IUP, and we all wish them well in the future endeavors that they choose to embark on. Good luck to all of them.

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Culture

Break the stigma by breaking old traditions CAIO GOMES Staff Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP May is Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM).

MHAM was started in 1949 by the Mental Health America (MHA) organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health). Its purpose is to break the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and working toward building a safe environment to have healthy discussions regarding them.

The MHA was founded by Clifford Beers in 1909. Nine years before founding the MHA, Beers himself was confined in a private mental institution for having depression and paranoia. In the facility, Beers was mistreated, being physically and mentally abused by the staff.

It was because of this negative experience that Beers decided to raise awareness to both: abuse in mental health facilities as well as the stigma surrounding just mental health in general. His experiences at the institution were recounted on his critically acclaimed book “The Mind That Found Itself.” In the book, Beers does point out that there are institutions that genuinely want to help.

“I think abuse in psychiatric institutions happened frequently then and happens today still.”

Kendall Gomez (freshman, Spanish/international studies) said.

“The patients are generally in a very vulnerable condition, and people may take advantage of that. However, it can also be very positive if the person is in the right hands” The history behind abuse and mistreatment in mental health institutions dates back to centuries ago. The oldest record of these facilities is from the mid-1700s, when asylums were popularized.

Those asylums were often cruel and beyond the point of inhumanity.

As time went by, the asylums became a punitive place rather than a facility to help those who need it. By the 1800s, many people hospitalized did not have any justifiable reason to be kept away from society and were just sent there for “wrongdoings” or for merely being different.

Most of this began to change in 1887, when Nellie Bly, a journalist for The New York World, went undercover to the Blackwell Island

(Facebook) There are resources available for people that are struggling with mental health-related issues. There are even resources at the Counseling Center at IUP for students in need.

Insane Asylum, where she spent 10 days. In her series of articles, which later were published in a book, Bly described the cruel treatment given to her in the asylum as well as how negligent the doctors exanimating her were.

In order to be interned, all that Bly had to do was cry a bit and tell people at a boardinghouse that she was scared of them because they looked crazy. Within a day, she was arrested, examined and was deemed as “definitely insane.” In her articles, Bly retells how the doctor involved was more busy flirting with the nurse than actually performing any sort of serious examination before declaring her “crazy.”

Once interned, Bly acted as she normally would.

Despite that, hospital staff seemed unaware that she was no longer ”insane” and instead began to report her ordinary actions, such as accidentally dropping something, as symptoms of her illness. Even her pleas to be released were interpreted as further signs of mental illness. Bly also spent time talking to other patients, whom she was convinced were just as sane as she was.

“For crying the nurses beat me

with a broom-handle and jumped on me,” Bly wrote recounting what an unnamed patient told her.

“Then they tied my hands and feet, and throwing a sheet over my head, twisted it tightly around my throat, so I could not scream, and thus put me in a bathtub filled with cold water.

“They held me under until I gave up every hope and became senseless.”

After the 10 days, The New York World secured Bly’s release, and the article was published.

Her article led to a governmental investigation and sparked a public movement to improve the conditions. While conditions did improve, it was far from becoming good. It was the beginning of the “scientific testing era.”

During this era, doctors would perform experiments on patients and try to “cure” them. At the time, mental illnesses were still treated as physical illnesses, and many thought it could be cured and/or transmitted.

One notorious case was the one of Dr. Julius Wagner-Jauregg. Inspired by the discovery that high fever stopped the symptoms of syphilis, Dr. Wagner-Jauregg experimented

injecting schizophrenia patients with malaria-infected blood. He, however, was not repudiated by the medical community for this inhumane experiment. Instead, he won the 1927 Nobel Prize in Medicine, despite the fact that it did not work.

As the 20th century progressed, so did the “scientific” techniques to experiment on patients.

During that time, German neurologist Dr. Manfred Sakel introduced insulin shock therapy to the American market. By injecting high levels of insulin into patients, doctors would cause convulsions and provoke a coma. After several hours, the living dead would be revived from the coma, and thought cured of their madness.

“By 1941, according to a U.S. Public Health survey, 72 percent of the country’s 305 reporting public and private asylums were using insulin coma therapy,” Mary de Young, author of “Madness: An American History of Mental Illness and Its Treatment,” said. “[Shock therapy was used] not only for schizophrenia, but also for other types of madness,” Young added.

Around the same time, doctors in Europe performed the first lobotomies. The practice was brought to the U.S. by Dr. Walter Freeman in 1945. The practice consists of damaging neural connections in the prefrontal cortex area of the brain thought to cause mental illness.

“The behaviors [doctors] were

trying to fix, they thought, were set down in neurological connections,” Barron Lerner, a medical historian and professor at New York University Langone Medical Center, said in an interview to Live Science. “The idea was, if you could damage those connections, you could stop the bad behaviors.”

Lobotomies did not just stop bad behaviors. It stopped the brain in general, many times stripping people of their personalities, memories and cognitive ability. Freeman himself admitted this, claiming that every patient “probably loses something by this operation.”

Lobotomies are still legal in the U.S. to this day, although rarely, as not that many people are checked-in into mental health facilities. Normally, people are kept in conservatorship.

A conservatorship is an arrangement where someone acts as another person’s financial and/ or mental overseer. Generally, the conservator is a professional, although it could also be a family member—which is when it can become abusive.

In some cases, people might be put under conservatorship out of interest of the conservators.

Recently, Britney Spears and the Free Britney Movement have been stealing the public spotlight, as the singer moved on a motion to remove her father from being her conservator.

As the story garnered more and more attention, many started questioning if keeping her in a conservatorship was still necessary. While most of her family claims she is doing just fine and support her emancipation, her father (who gains thousands a month for being her conservator) claims is still necessary.

“Obviously, there was a need for it in the beginning,” Bryan Spears, Britney’s brother, said.

“Now they’ve made some changes, and all we can do is hope for the best. She’s always wanted to get out of it. [Having] someone coming in with an attitude [and] having someone constantly [telling] you to do something has got to be frustrating.”

Whether it was through forcing people into asylums in the 1800s or keeping them in conservatorship in 2020s, one thing remains true: society’s stigma surrounding mental illnesses does more harm than good.

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May 5, 2021

Like Fall Out Boy, seniors are thankful for the memories CAIO GOMES Staff Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP As the 2020–21 school year is reaching an end, graduating students look fondly at their experiences at IUP. Unless a student lives in the town of Indiana, they are required to live on campus during freshman year. This means that most graduating students lived on campus at least in their first year. For many students, living without parental supervision on campus is the first time experimenting with some sort of independence. For that reason, most memories revolve around growing up and adulting.

College is also a place in which many students deal with responsibilities for the same part, as this is a part of the growing-up process. Because of that, many seniors (especially those who held leadership positions on campus) recall fondly of key moments in which they played a part in younger student’s experience on campus.

“My favorite memory was the start of the [2020–21] year when the entire campus was working together to make the semester feel normal,” Tori Campbell (graduate student) said. “I loved move-in and welcome week.”

In many cases, college is the place where one can really find oneself. As most of the students are young adults, more mature than their high school selves; many find college the place where they can truly be themselves without fearing what would people say.

Because of both reasons, the fact that most people are “adulting” for the first time and that they are being themselves with no fear for the first time, strong bonds and friendships are formed. Due to that bond, many seniors claim their favorite moment have to do with hanging out with friends.

(Contributed by Nic Pomazanski/The Penn Archives) Nic Pomazanski (left) and others graudates have a lot of fond and exciting memories for their years at IUP. “[My favorite memory] definitely [is] sitting in the Great Hall in Whitmyre, working with friends on thesis papers late at night,” Nic Pomazanski (senior, English/writing studies) said.

College friendship has always been a very discussed topic and a trope present in media. Shows like “Gilmore Girls,” “Hospital Playlist” and “Friends from College” all popularized the concept of friendship during the college years.

This year, however, many of these friendships had to overcome the barrier of distance.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most seniors were not allowed to come back to live on campus.

While some did come back to

live off-campus and get some semblance of “normality,” many seniors did not come to Indiana because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“IUP has never been about buildings; it is about people,” IUP President Michael Driscoll said.

“Our students, faculty and staff have been incredibly resilient, positive and innovative since the March 2020 requirement to go completely remote, but this is

not our preference.”

Driscoll added on a statement that IUP plans on coming back on-campus for fall 2021, as the university’s administration believes the school is ready for this next step.

With that said, he also reiterated that IUP will continue to follow CDC guidelines, as well as the Pennsylvania state guidelines.

This means that next year’s seniors will rejoice some sort of normalcy.

For this year’s graduation,

graduate student will be honored Friday and undergraduate students on Saturday. The graduation ceremonies will be held in-person and are open to anyone with a ticket for it. Those iwthout a ticket will still be able to view the ceremony on IUP’s YouTube channel where it will be livestreamed. The video of the livestream will be posted later for anyone that missed it.

There is still tickets available for those that signed up to go to the ceremony so be sure to get your prior to the event.

As for seniors graduating this year, The Penn wishes them good luck with everything in the future and hopes that they will hold on tight to these dear IUP memories.

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Culture

H S A C E R O M G N I Y A !

P S E L T I T T S O M R O F

SELL YOUR BOOKS BACK TO US!

APRIL 29-30 & MAY 3-7 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Please return rental books before Monday, May 10 to avoid additional fees

Culture

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May 5, 2021

Bill Nye, STATIC host an electrifying discussion STATIC HALEY BROWN tbfx@iup.edu

I am Haley and will be writing weekly about the upcoming events for STATIC. Stay tuned.

On Saturday, the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) hosted An Evening with Bill Nye, featuring one of the most passionate, famous scientists that graced many childhoods and taught us so much.

Nye joined IUP STATIC members Zach Clark, STATIC’s adviser, and Erin Wilhelm, STATIC’s vice entertainment chair, via Zoom for the night’s discussion. The event consisted mainly of moderated questions led by the two STATIC members.

Bill Nye began the night with a short opening remark. He addressed the COVID-19 pandemic first and explained how extraordinary a time we are living through.

Nye explained that the last pandemic was in 1918, the Spanish flu, and that it was estimated that 50 million people died. There were no vaccines in that time, but he proudly

(STATIC) Bill Nye (top right) discussed many topics during the events like global warming and the COVID-19 pandemic. admitted that he has already received his two COVID-19 vaccinations and bragged about being able to go outside without wearing a mask.

Not only did he address the pandemic in his opening remarks, but he jumped right into the discussion by addressing the world’s current struggle with climate change.

“The pandemic is big fun, but we’ve also got climate change,” Nye said.

“There’s a lot going on, people.

You got your work cut out for you, and I am optimistic about the future because you’re young and you’re not gonna put up with this contrarian science denial. It’s gonna be exciting.”

During the event, he spoke a bit about himself. Nye explained that one of the reasons why his “Science Guy” show was so successful was the creative team with a shared sense of humor and the “intimate nature of television.”

“You can’t fool the lens,” Nye said.

“When a guy or gal is on television, and they’re looking at the lens, and they’re talking to you, you can’t fool the viewer. He or she knows if you’re lying to them. As far as who Bill Nye is, what you see is what you get.

“I love science; I love engineering and using science to make things and solve problems.”

Nye also joked about how he ac-

tually wears bowties in real life, too.

He shared his excitement about working as the CEO of the Planetary Society, the world’s largest independent space interest organization. He also mentioned everyone’s excitement about the Perseverance Rover on Mars and the developments to that project.

Nye also spoke about how he developed his famous combination of comedy and science to help people learn. He explained that the intersection mainly came from his family values. Many of his family members were involved in science, including his grandfather and his parents, and he joked about how playful his family members are to this day.

One of Nye’s greatest inspirations was Don Herbert, who hosted the television show called “Watch Mister Wizard.” Herbert’s show featured interesting and unique science experiments and demonstrations, which the young Bill Nye had found to be riveting in his childhood. Nye explained that he was fascinated

by Herbert and that he “studied his moves” and adapted them to be his own.

There was a short portion of the night in which some IUP students were invited to ask Nye their questions personally. The audience questions ranged from what he believed his greatest accomplishment to be, to what inspired him to be more

vocal about his knowledge of global warming.

“My advice to all college students, to everybody, is to just get started,” Nye said.

“It doesn’t matter what you do; just get going on something, and you will find your way. You will find a path forward.”

Finally, he finished his discussion with some tips on how to make a difference for the sake of fighting climate change.

“The first thing you can do is talk about it,” Nye said.

“If we were talking about climate change the way we talk about other important things, we’d be doing something about it. Everybody, please vote. You have to vote. We also need big ideas, everybody.”

Nye emphasized how important it was to get involved in the effort to save the planet and contribute ideas to help create change.

“We need new ways to make electricity and new ways to move it around. Wind and solar can power almost everything, everywhere, if we just get started. We just gotta get started. Let’s do it.”

The conversation throughout the event was entertaining and engaging, and Nye went into such detail in answering each question that the event ran about 15 minutes past its scheduled end, but no one complained.

STATIC hosts 33rd annual cookout

(Steven Langdon Jr./The Penn) STATIC celebrated the end of the year with an annual cookout in front of the Hadley Union Building. The event ran from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday. STATIC was joined by the new executive board memebers to put on the event. After students signed in, they were given STATIC bucks which they could use to get food for a variety of food trucks. In addition to the food, students could tie dye “IUP” shirts, play yard games and listen to music. Everyone in attendance was required to socially distance themselves from others and wear a mask.

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Culture

Musician among us Scott Sinclair tells all

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.

One IUP graduate student has had an extensive musical career.

Scott Sinclair is a communications media graduate student at IUP. He arrived in Indiana after graduating with a journalism degree from Penn State’s New Kensington campus.

“I really liked the writing and video editing part of that because I could equate it to my music production,” Sinclair said.

“I graduated in 2020, and it was suggested by a Penn State New Kensington staffer that I take the communications media master’s program here.”

Prior to his education at Penn State and IUP, Sinclair was living his dream as a drummer in the Pittsburgh music scene in the 1990s. Having been a part of several different groups, Sinclair got the chance to play numerous musical styles, as well as in many different venues. From the Dave Matthew’s Band-esque Barefoot Serpents, to the pop punk energy of The Drag Strippers or the rockabilly nature of Highway 13, Sinclair has been part of it all.

Sinclair said that the split in the music he played was further represented in the city of Pittsburgh itself, with pop and rock music being the powerhouses.

The music genre was not the only difference, either, as the venues that the groups played at had their differences.

“At those (pop) shows, there was a distinct headlining band on a given night and a supporting opener,” Sinclair said. “Rock and punk were more equitable; we would decide who was the headlining band on a given night.”

Sinclair said that, despite the differences between the different styles of music that were going on at the time, there was a sense of community and family amongst the different bands. The musicians were all part of a big family, and they really went through the effort to acknowledge when another band or musician did something very impressive or talented.

The bands themselves may have had a sense of family, but that was not so much the case for the fans.

As is the case with anything, fans are often very polarized towards the music that groups play.

Despite never making it big as one may think, Sinclair’s various groups always managed to gain a steady following of fans that would listen to them, which was Sinclair’s favorite part. According to him, being able to play for an audience at a concert is something that could not be beaten.

Even though his groups had only a small following, Sinclair was still able to spend time in a studio recording music.

(Contributed by Scott Sinclair) Scott Sinclair, an IUP graduate student, had played with multiple bands around Pittsburgh.

“We would play the song straight through so that I could lay down the drums tracks,” Sinclair said. “So, I got done early and would lend my ear to the rest of the parts.”

This is why, in Sinclair’s mind, drummers make good producers, as they are able to pick out different notes and riffs.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when a small financial crisis caused Sinclair to have to sell his

gear in 2010.

Despite this loss, Sinclair says that he wants to get equipment back after getting through grad school.

Despite the fact that he may never get back into the music scene like he was in the past, Sinclair says that he would love to be able to play with the younger generation, as well as his former contemporaries, if he ever gets the chance.

What time is it? Summertime! It’s our vacation Students share their plans for summer break

EVA TILLICH Culture Editor jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The semester has come to an end, and IUP students cannot wait to start their summer.

This year proved to have many challenges that came from being in a primarily virtual format for classes. So, students are ready for this break.

While most students plans to work to get some extra cash in their pockets, many have some exciting plans as well.

“I am planning to go home and work, spend time with my friends and family and maybe take a small road trip,” Madison Zimmer (freshman, art education) said.

Zimmer said she is not sure

Many students plan to go on a vacation this summer. where she will work, but she is looking into working at at a coffee shop and bartending because of the money from tips.

“This summer, I am really looking forward to less stress and

(Flickr)

opportunities to grow,” Zimmer said.

Evan Orr (junior, actuarial mathematics) is also excited for summer break and has a lot of plans.

“I plan on working through the summer at Coys to make sure I have funds for college,” Orr said.

He wants to see his friends and spend more time with family.

He also plans to set aside for time for himself to read, stream shows and movies and work out.

“This might be one of my busiest summers ever since I will have to study a bit before next fall.”

Orr said he did not mind keeping busy though because it will keep him productive and happy.

“My plans for the summer include mainly working and taking small trip with my four main friends,” Haylea Dupain (freshman, criminology) said.

She is not sure where her and her friends plan to go yet, but she knows that they will have fun regardless.

“I am excited for break because I really want to get out of

my town,” Dupain said.

When Dupain returns to her home, she will resume work at Old Navy.

Thomas Valcukas (freshman, biology) said that he is planning to visit his family and reconnect with old friends at home.

“I am excited to go back home and start my summer, but I will miss my friends at IUP,” Valcukas said.

Valcukas said that he is not sure if he will get a job or not because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I should get a job, but I am not sure if that will happen or not because it may be hard to find something. I am looking into it though.”

Summer break is a great opportunity to recharge and and enjoy yourself. So, have fun and stay safe.

Sports ‘Another one’

Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu Lead Sportswriter: Austin Smith – A.S.Smith7@iup.edu

IUP tennis wins PSAC Championship for third time since 2017 STEVEN LANGDON JR

Editor-in-Chief PBYW@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP tennis went back on top of the PSAC after claiming the title Friday. It was the third title since 2017, but was unconventional compared to their last ones.

The team was scheduled to play Millersville in the title match at the Maple Street Courts in Indiana, but was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. This meant the Crimson Hawks won the title by default. It was the team’s first since 2018.

“Winning PSAC was in our mind at all times, and we work hard for it,” Idoia Huerta (junior, biology) said. “This season has not been easy on us. We have played different matches with four or five players due to injuries and/or health concerns. It is not easy to play with only four players, and we managed to do it and win.

“We were out for one month at the beginning of the season and that caused us to not be super prepared for it.

Despite all that, we work harder, and we create an opportunity for us to win.

Winning PSAC is exciting.”

Despite the fact that IUP won the championship, some of the athletes were saddened by the news they would not be able to compete Saturday.

Sports

(IUP Athletics) Karolin Kirchtag (junior, sports administration) has been IUP’s No. 1 tennis athlete since transferring this year from Alabama Huntsville. She will look to help the Crimson Hawks as they head into region“The team reaction when coach [Larry] Peterson announced that we won was no excitement at all,” Huerta said. “It was all sad expressions, disappointment, etc. There is nothing like winning the match on the court.

“We knew that our chances of winning were really high after defeating SRU. We were ready to win on the court; we were ready to get the PSAC Championship, and winning it by not playing is never fun. I remember the excitement when we

clinched the semifinals, and that was awesome. It would have been great to win on the court.”

“We all were shocked when coach told us about Millersville,” Laura Dunarova (junior, accounting) said.

“It took us a while to process it. It would feel better if we played on Saturday, but there is nothing we could do about it.

I do not think this title feels different because we all worked hard the entire semester, and we de-

May 5, 2021

served it.”

The Crimson Hawks were coming in red hot after defeating Slippery Rock 4−1 on April 28 during the PSAC Semifinals in Indiana.

That win extended the team’s win streak to six.

It also helped IUP finish with a 13−3 overall and 6−0 record in the PSAC. Millersville was coming in with a fourmatch win streak with an 8−4 overall and 4−1 conference record.

With the PSAC title secured,

IUP now looks ahead to the Atlantic Region Championships where they will face Slippery Rock on Monday. The team is excited for the opportunity to compete on a national level.

“The team energy is great,” Dunarova said. “We are happy about our game and results.

“The plan is to work hard this week and get ready for regionals. We want to go to nationals in Arizona.”

“The excitement level is OK,” Huerta said. “We won in a way that we did not want to win.

Regionals is the big tournament that we have been waiting for since day one. Regionals is the door for nationals, our goal.

“This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, only one team from the region makes it to the NCAA tournament. We are ranked No. 2 in the region where Charleston is ranked No. 1. We lost 4-3 against Charleston the last time.

“We are in a better position regarding injuries and health concerns. We have a chance; we believe we can do it. The level of excitement is high and at the same time mixed with the nerves and the desire of winning regionals.”

As Huerta said, the Crimson Hawks’ biggest opposition is the Charleston Golden Eagles, who won the Mountain East Conference Championship against West Virginia State 4−1. They will go into the Atlantic Regional Championships with a 14−3 record on the season.

The Crimson Hawks and Golden Eagles last competed against each other on April 10 in Charleston, West Virginia. If IUP wants to make it to the NCAA Championships, they will need to get past some steep competition.

The first round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships will begin Monday with the champion crowned the next day in Charleston.

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Sports

Hawks fall short to Mercyhurst in PSAC quarterfinals

‘Playing four games in six days – all being on the road – I think affected us by the end of the stretch’ AUSTIN SMITH Lead Sports Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and all the challenges it has brought to all athletes, the IUP women’s lacrosse team still had a solid season but fell to Mercyhurst 16–4 in the quarterfinals this past weekend.

The Hawks finished with an overall record of 6–6 and 6–4 in the conference.

“I am so proud of this group,” head coach Brenna Gallagher said. “Between playing in a pandemic, injuries and having four freshmen consistently starting and playing big roles in big games, I am very proud of them beating the odds and making the tournament.

“The future is very bright with all the young talent coming back next season.”

In the 16–4 loss, the game got out of hand early with Mercyhurst taking a 5–0 lead 10 minutes into the game. IUP did manage to strike two goals on the board in a 1:10. The two goals came from Kayte Zeiler (senior, exercise science) and Leah Hunter (junior, speech pathology). Both were goals were assisted by Jordan Kulp (sophomore, nursing).

“I think they were excited, but getting out of a hole that we were in was tough,” Gallagher said.

The deficit was cut to three, and the Hawks were down 5–2, but unfortunately, that did not last long. Mercyhurst added nine goals in a row in the second half of the game. After that, Mercyhurst just kept on taking advantage of IUP’s turnovers and defensive miscues.

“Mercyhurst capitalized off our mistakes,” Gallagher said. “Our keeper made some nice stops back-to-back-to-back, and we couldn’t clear the ball out of the zone. When that happens, the shot clock resets, giving the opposing team 90 seconds to execute and tire us out. That hurt us.”

In a fast-paced game, being stuck in your own zone can wear your defense out much faster. In the second half of the game, the Lakers kept on adding goals and made it to a point where IUP could not come back as the deficit grew larger.

The Hawks would add on two more goals, with another one coming from Hunter and one from Chantal Jimenez (freshman, biology). With the final score being 16–4, the Hawks still did everything they could this season and with younger talent on the roster.

This big loss also showed how much it takes to play these full games.

“Lacrosse is a very high-speed, lots of running game,” Gallagher said. “So yes, playing four games in six days – all being on the road – I think affected us by the end of the stretch. I am super proud of them playing such a close game with Mercyhurst, Wednesday, and then getting back on the road Thursday and beating Lock Haven less than 24 hours later.”

The Hawks are looking forward to next season though and will look to dominate in the PSAC. “I am excited to have more preparation time with hopes the fall ball season is more normal,” Gallagher said. “We have nine out of our 12 starters returning with nine talented incoming freshmen. We will have more time to get them prepared, and they can get in more of a groove playing with one another. That will be a big difference-maker next season.”

Until the fall, the Hawks will look to seek revenge and make a deep playoff run next season.

jordan kulp

(IUP Athletics) Despite the tough end to the season, IUP lacrosse will look to learn from this loss and improve.

May 5, 2021

Sports

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(IUP Women’s Rugby Twitter) The IUP women’s rugby team has been a powerhouse program for years, often being nationally ranked.

IUP women’s rugby shines on the field, despite lack of support GABRIELLA BYRNE Staff Writer bmwx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The nationally ranked IUP women’s rugby team endures lack of support from the IUP community.

The IUP women’s rugby team is entirely self-ran with a board of nine officers supervising most decisions, including accepting or declining game matches, reserving field time and handling finances.

President of the women’s rugby team, Destiny Weiser (junior, special education), manages team meetings, team paperwork, social media, delegating tasks to officers and the representation of the team’s image.

The team is also responsible for coaching itself with the help of alumni Yanny Houlihan and Alina Withers.

“When I say we’re self-ran, I mean we do almost everything ourselves,” Weiser said.

The women’s rugby team’s impressive track record consists of an undefeated streak in 2018 and 2019, ranking across the nation as seventh in Division II. They lost only one game in 2020.

Despite being a nationally ranked team, there are downsides that come from being a club-based sport.

Financially, the rugby teams must fundraise for equipment, including their own uniforms. The Co-Op helps with gas reimbursement, but their main supporters are those of

family and alumni.

Both rugby teams receive generous support from Marty, the owner of Al Patti’s.

In a normal season, the women’s team practice outside or using the Co-Op gym at least daily without access to a field house for training, which could drastically affect the members’ fitness levels.

“Being a nationally ranked team with barely any support from IUP is very discouraging for us,” Weiser said. “We love this school and all the experiences we have had here, but not feeling that love back from the community doesn’t feel great.

“We just want to feel noticed and appreciated by the school we’ve

proudly represented.”

Club sports are not as acknowledged or supported by the IUP community, so the burden lies on the members of these clubs to promote, obtain budgets and funding and train the new members brought in by the former members; however, that speaks toward their records.

“I can’t speak for the other clubs, but our team practices just as much, if not more, than most of the school teams in a normal season,” Weiser said.

“We would also just like to get recognition for our accomplishments; whether it’s a club sport or a school sport, everyone is wearing the same school on their jersey. The only difference is that the club sports’ accomplishments

often go seemingly unnoticed by IUP.” The COVID-19 pandemic brought about issues with recruitment. With in-person events like IUP Day and Winter Warmup, the standard for gaining new members consisted of around seven to 10 players, but the pandemic forced the team to rely on social media to find interested people.

“As a women’s rugby team, it’s difficult to recruit because we have a stigma of being ‘too rough’ for girls, yet we are constantly thought of as ‘weaker’ [or] ‘not as hard’ as [men’s] rugby,” Weiser said.

The women’s rugby team would most appreciate the community’s support in attending their games and participating in their fundraisers.

For current information regarding the team, its social medias are the most updated on Instagram at scooterrugbyiup, Twitter at iupwomensrugby and Facebook at IUP Scooters Rugby.

May 5, 2021

20

Sports

Crimson Hawk Spotlight:

Student athletes impress on and off the field

By IUP Sports Information ATHLETES OF THE MONTH: Softball player Kaitlyn Beers (graduate student, criminology) and men's track & field athlete Jayden Thomas (sophomore, marketing) were announced as the IUP Student-Athletes of the Month for April.

This is the second month for the award, which highlights two student-athletes each month during the academic year who have demonstrated success in the classroom and on their respective field of play.

Beers is from Reynoldsville, Pa., owns a 3.75 cumulative grade point average and is currently pursuing her master's degree in criminology. She earned her undergraduate degree from IUP

last spring and received CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honors last May. Beers broke the IUP softball program's all-time home run record on April 19, blasting her 29th career homer during a doubleheader against Millersville.

For the month, Beers had a .480 batting average (24-50) and a 1.000 slugging percentage in 16 games, hitting six doubles, a triple, and six home runs, while adding 10 RBI and 13 runs scored.

Thomas is a marketing major

from Uniontown, Pa., and owns a 3.93 cumulative grade point average through last semester.

A high jumper, he heads into this week's 2021 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Outdoor Championships ranked eighth in the event with a season-high mark of 1.90 meters (602.75). In three meets during the month of April, Thomas posted three top-5 finishes in the high jump, finishing second at IUP's Ed Fry Invitational with that height of 1.90 meters.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL Women’s lacrosse player Jordan Kulp (sophomore, nursing) and baseball players Alex Super (senior, criminology) and Colin Williams (senior, management) were named to the latest IUP Weekly Honor Roll, announced Monday.

The Honor Roll celebrates individual standout performances from IUP student-athletes over the previous week.

Jordan Kulp - Lacrosse The sophomore stared last week, posting a dominating offensive performance in leading the Crimson Hawks into the postseason. Kulp scored 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in four games, including a career-high nine in Mercyhurst. In a must-win game for IUP, she scored four goals and assisted on two others in a 14-13

overtime victory at Lock Haven.

Alex Super - Baseball The senior supplied a bullish pitching performance in the middle of a game that saw 35 runs come across the board.

Super struck out seven batters, scattered three hits, and allowed one run during IUP’s 18-17 loss to Wheeling last week. His pitching allowed IUP to rally from a 17-3 deficit in the third inning, keeping Wheeling scoreless in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

Colin Williams - Baseball The senior shortstop hit .385 (5-13) with a team-best three extra-base hits and .692 slugging percentage in five games last week. In the aforementioned slugfest against Wheeling, Williams went 2-3 with two doubles, two RBI, and scored three runs.

IUP baseball drops senior night against Clarion

By IUP Sports Information The IUP baseball team dropped both ends of a home doubleheader to Clarion Saturday afternoon at Dougherty Field. The Crimson Hawks lost by scores of 5-1 and 14-10.

Between games, the program celebrated its eight seniors for Senior Day. Honored were pitchers JP Pellis (graduate student, finance), Michael Perreault (senior, criminology) , Nick Kuhn (senior, psychology), Ben Hudock (senior, software engineering), and Jayson Wilbur (senior, sports administration), position players Ben Teplin (senior, business) and Chris Eisel (senior, pre-physical therapy), and student assistant coach

Lukas Heffner.

In the opener, Clarion scored in the second and third innings to take a 3-0 lead. Colin Williams (senior, management) put the Crimson Hawks on the board with an RBI triple in the fourth, scoring Ty Diehl (junior, exercise science). Clarion then answered with a home run in the fifth and scored two in the inning for a comfortable 5-1 win.

Both teams offenses took center stage in the nightcap, as IUP and Clarion combined for 24 runs and 25 hits. Clarion used four straight singles in the first to score four early runs while Eisel brought one across with a RBI single in the bottom half.

Each team scored in the third and Clarion grabbed a 10-2 lead with two in the fourth and three in the fifth. Harrison Pontoli led off the bottom half with a double, before the Crimson Hawks used four walks and a Markus Cestra extra base hit to score five runs and cut the deficit to 10-7.

Clarion took a 14-7 lead into the bottom half of the seventh but the Hawks put their rally caps back on. Singles by Nick Hess and Jake Cherry were followed by back-to-back walks, scoring a run. Austin Mueller (senior, business) then singled to right, scoring two and making it a four-run game. Colton Burd drew a walk to put the game-tying run on first with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat The Crimson Hawks wrap up their 2021 season next weekend with a fourgame series against Slippery Rock. IUP will host the series opening doubleheader Friday and travel to Slippery Rock for two on Saturday.

(IUP Athletics)