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NEWS
News Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu
(Paul Marchwinski – Teddy Jeannette/The Penn) With COVID-19 cases rising throughout Indiana and IUP, the release of the spring 2021 semester appears to mirror the plan put in place for the current semester.
Spring semester to mirror fall semester at IUP EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP While it was up in the air for the past few months, it was made official that the rebalance plan at IUP will continue into next semester. In an email sent to students Oct. 6, the IUP Fall Planning Group went into detail about the future plans for IUP. This includes both the current semester and spring 2021, and much of what has been put into place will continue on until further notice. The rebalance plan means IUP will continue to limit the number of students allowed on campus and will continue with hybrid classes as COVID-19 continues to be an issue. This information is highly
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important now as students begin registration, according to the email. “As you register for spring classes, please make sure you understand the delivery method of your courses; your advisor or your course instructor is the best source of this information,” the email said. Despite much of what has already been continuing, there has been one big change in the form of spring break. Traditionally a one-week long break for students, it has been decided that IUP will instead determine five different days with no classes. They will not happen concurrently. IUP also asks that students continue to follow community guidelines, including wearing a mask and social distancing. While many students have
mixed emotions regarding changes to the health and safety guidelines, many understood the need for them, and therefore, weren’t too bothered. Elissa Ridenour (junior, biology) found some of the policies hard to get. “I think I'm still confused on how it goes down, but it is fine,” she said. “It looked like nothing did change.” Christina Horst (sophomore, psychology) also found that there was no problem in continuing next semester as a hybrid, but she was disappointed with the spring break changes. “I don't mind sticking with the rebalance plan, but what's with spring break,” she said. “I don't really understand that besides trying to restrict student travel.” Not everyone is OK with the
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plans made by IUP, especially when looking at how the current semester is going. Sierra Shoener (senior, interior design) said she thought the restrictions were punishing students who followed guidelines. “Why are they worried about restricting where people go and what people do now?” Shoener said that just by looking outside her window, she saw people were not following guidelines. For her, there was no point in pushing the issue. “No one is going to stop them,” she said. She also said that if IUP was going to try to restrict students, the administration needed to push the rules more in order to stop any possible virus from spreading. “They know all this stuff is go-
ing on,” she said. “They openly see people walking around on campus without masks, so why do we even have the rules when they’re not gonna punish people for not following them?” IUP’s plan for those not following guidelines includes a chance that they could face the student conduct board. As of Tuesday, IUP has had 251 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 212 have recovered. For those returning to campus in the spring, move-in will take place Jan. 16 and 17. The semester schedules will run from Jan. 19 until May 3. All students living on campus will receive another free safety kit. All of the guidelines and information is available to the public through IUP’s website at iup.edu/news-item.
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IUP’s International Education week kicked off Monday and will continue until Oct. 21, giving students a way to learn about studying abroad.
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Where in the world are IUP students?
IUP kicks off International Education Week with virtual events RACHEL FOOR Staff Writer myjv@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP’s Office of International Education will host virtual events for International Education Week from Oct. 12 to Oct. 21. According to the Office of International Education, International Education week “is a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education to promote cross-cultural awareness, prepare students for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the U.S.” The office held several events already this week including Europe Monday, International Radio Hour, a Six O’Clock Series and studying abroad information. If you missed any of these events, there are still more to come. Wednesday will be dedicated to opportunities in Asia. Participants will learn about studying abroad at IUP’s Asian partners and hear from IUP staff. This event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Zoom information is iupvideo.zoom.us/j/94560687580. On Thursday, participants will learn about where and how to study abroad with IUP’s faculty-led programs during the Let’s Go
Together! event. Staff will also be available to answer questions. The Zoom information for this event is iupvideo.zoom.us/j/95781025917. Additionally, International Poetry Night will be held at 7 p.m., offering a different look into other cultures. Participants will read poetry, which will be shared in their original language and English. This event’s Zoom information is iupvideo.zoom.us/j/96254636928. Oct. 16, will feature dinner and an international film. Everyone is invited to get an international-themed to-go dinner from North Dining Hall and watch “Freaks – You’re One of Us.”
This is a 2020 German film about people being treated for mental illnesses discovering that they have superpowers. The film will start at 8 p.m. and registration is required. To watch the film, participants will need to have a Netflix account or sign up for a free 30-day trial. More details will be provided after registering for
the event. The week’s final event will be held at noon on Oct. 21. It will be a virtual lunch and learn titled “Voting Around the World” sponsored by the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement. At this event, a panel of faculty and students from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand and U.S. will share an examination of politics in their countries as well as what the process of voting is like compared to the U.S. The Zoom information for this event is iupvideo.zoom.us/s/91720792308. A new episode of the Office of International Education’s new streaming podcast “Tales from Abroad: Celebrating the Student Journey” will be released each day during International Education Week. The podcast will feature stories from IUP faculty, friends, staff and students about their time spent abroad. The shows stream on anchor.fm/ tailsfromabroad, Apple, Google, Spotify or other podcast providers. The funds for the week’s events are provided by the Office of International Education and IUP Student Cooperative Association. According to the Office of International Education, IUP has more than 400 international students from 53 countries this year. For more information stu-
dents may contact the Office of International Education at (724) 357-2295 or email at Intl-Educa-
tion@iup.edu. Events also are listed on the webpage: iup.edu/ international/iew.
Remembering a student 32 years later HEATHER BAIR News Editor zzzx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Thirty-two years after an IUP student was found dead on campus, justice has still not been served. Jack Alan Davis Jr., a 20-yearold sophomore at IUP, was found at the bottom of the stairwell outside Weyandt Hall Oct. 22, 1987. He had been missing since Oct. 17 according to friends and professors. The cause of death was discovered and then disputed by two separate medical examiners; Dr. Thomas Streams and Dr. Cyril Wecht. Streams theorized that Davis had been drinking heavily, went to the stairwell to urinate, blacked out and fell, choking on his own vomit. Wecht disproved that theory when he performed his own autopsy three years later. In 1990, Wecht discovered Davis had clotting in his brain, and the previous theory of Davis choking on regurgitated food was not possible as he had no food particles in his lungs and
his blood alcohol level was all but non-existent. Davis had been missing since Oct. 17, yet in the days that led up to the discovery of the body five days later, there had been heavy rainfall in Indiana. There is no roof on the stairwell, yet Davis’s clothing showed no signs of weather damage. Even more puzzling was that Davis had been cleanshaven at the time of his disappearance, but he had a full face of stubble upon the discovery of his body. In 2014, Marlene Gentilcore published a book called “Justice Wanted: The Kid in the University Stairwell,” after investigating Davis’s death with his family. The case was also on season 7 of the show “Unsolved Mysteries.” As stated in the book, Davis’s mother hopes that one day, someone will come up and tell her the truth of what happened to Jack all those years ago. The family and Gentilcore are convinced someone out there knows the truth on what happened that night.
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New scholarship available for students in Sutton Scholarship Program EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer e.d.loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Another scholarship is available at IUP thanks to a 1971 alum. The John R. and Dorothy J. Lauderman Sutton Scholarship was established in honor of the experience that John had had during his time at IUP. It was a time he said he “cherished.” “At this point in my life, I felt it was time to give back to my alma mater and help other students to fulfill their dreams,” Lauderman said in a previous newsletter. The scholarship also acted as a way for Lauderman to honor his professors and friends. He majored in business management. He went on to work 35 years as a certified public accountant. Originally from Harrisburg, he and his wife, Dorothy, now reside in Conway, S.C. The scholarship is available to students who qualify for the Sutton Scholarship Program. However, there is a preference toward students who are part of Eberly College of Business and Information Technology. Eberly has over 25,000 alumni, and many of them continue to pay it forward with donations to IUP. Executive Director of Media Relations Michelle Fryling spoke on behalf of IUP about the scholarship, showing thanks in its honor. “IUP alumni are so generous and so appreciative of their IUP education,” she said. “They are amazing in their commitment to giving back to students for now and for the future.” The scholarship is one of many donations and funds created that help take part of IUP’s Imagine Unlimited Campaign. At approximately $75 million dollars, the campaign helps push IUP as one of the country’s leaders in aiding student experiences through scholarships and grants. Scholarships are important not only to students, but also to the administration. This is especially apparent during trying times such as the pandemic according to the Vice President of University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna. “Fortunately, the IUP family continues to be incredibly gener-
While the Lauderman Sutton Scholarship is available to anybody, there is a preference for those in the Eberly College. ous through scholarships like the one funded by the Laudermans,” she said. Osseiran-Hanna said that IUP was honored by every donation, no matter how big or small. “We appreciate each and every gift; donations like this help to ensure that students today and tomorrow will have the resources to thrive,” she said. IUP is also helping its students through its Emergency Relief Fund, which now holds $250,000. It was put together with donations by over 600 alumni, faculty and students. As mentioned before, the John R. and Dorothy J. Lauderman Scholarship was available to students who are accepted by the Sutton Scholarship Program. Students qualified for the Sutton Scholarship Program are incoming freshmen with “outstanding academic credentials,” according to the IUP website. The Sutton Scholarship Program is already accredited to students when they enroll. Though it may preference Eberly students, students of any college are able to apply for a chance at the Lauderman Scholarship. To learn more about this scholarship as well as other ones that
are available, students can visit iup.edu/supportiup/where-weneed-help/scholarships/ for more information.
Information on how to support and donate gifts toward funds and scholarships are also available.
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For questions on donating gifts, please email The Office of Giving at iup-giving@iup.edu or call (724) 357-5555.
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IUP celebrates National Coming Out Day 2020
(Paul Marchwinski/The Penn) National Coming Out Day was celebrated Monday on the IUP campus. The day brings awareness to those in the LGBTQ+ community and is observed in order to support those who have yet to “come out of the closet.� The day was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1988. At IUP, the IUP Haven Project offered information on healthy relationships, information and safe places. Drew Booth (middle) and Tori Campbell (right) were present in the Oak Grove to offer information to people about the LGBTQ+ community.
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Confederate flag discouraged in Indiana after Penn series MARIAMA MANSARAY Contributing Writer myjv@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Indiana Borough Council took a stand against the confederate flag, approving a resolution Sept. 22, stating that public display is inconsistent with community values. Inspired by a series documented in The Penn about “Living Black in Indiana,” and in a show of solidarity to the Black community in the borough, the council voted and passed a resolution to “denounce” the use of the confederate flag within the community to intimidate residents or visitors to the borough Oct. 6. “This particular resolution makes sense to me in that it is a statement of intent from the council,” Gerald Smith, council vice president, said. “It tries to communicate that despite the fact that these overt symbols of racism are around, they don't represent our community. This community rejects symbols of hate like the confederate flag, and they are inconsistent with our values.”
(HuffPost) The confederate flag has been a topic of debate across the country as many are calling for it to be taken down in communities. As described in the resolution’s text, “In order to achieve our aspirations for a more perfect Union, Indiana Borough wishes to join with communities, organizations, and corporations across the U.S. to discourage racism, intolerance, and any form of intimidation based on race or ethnicity…” Though the resolution was passed, it was a divisive decision among council members. Opposition to the resolution cautioned against the consequences, effects and the reactions the resolution will “stir” from residents
in the community. “I think this is going to have the opposite effect of what we think it will have,” Council member Kaycee Newell said. “This resolution is going to produce more confederate flags. People are going to go out and buy more flags.” The flag, Newell said, is a bigger part of the community than people would like to admit. Though she sees the benefit of this resolution, she cautioned council to be careful of not becoming “some sort of moral police” to the community it serves, especially based on past
experiences with the community regarding the mask ordinance that was passed in August. She wants the council to know the effect this resolution will produce in people in the community. “We need to make sure that our actions produce the results that we want, which is fewer confederate flags,” Newell said. In the light of these cautionary advice, Council President Peter Board had a different view. “I cannot in good conscience concede positive values to the people who will oppose this,” he said. Newell was not the only member to warn council against possible “retaliation” tactics from residents opposed to the ban of confederate flags. Council member Poom Sunhachawi-Taylor agrees with the cautionary points. “If we are in the middle of a hornet nest over a mask ordinance, don’t you think we are going to kick the hornet nest again over this confederate flag issue?” Sunhachawi-Taylor said. What is the point of a resolution, she said, if it does nothing, and
there’s not teeth behind it? Why pass resolutions if they are not worth doing anything? While some council members did not openly agree with these warnings, they still felt “torn” about the passing of the resolution. Despite these warnings, majority of the members said they felt differently because this resolution will show that the Borough of Indiana formally denounce hateful or violent speech directed at any individual or group based on their race or ethnicity. During the meeting, the council also covered the issues of public safety, especially train safety and current road constructions in the borough. Discussions about partnering with IUP to build a sidewalk by 13th, Maple and Oakland Street was tabled for next month’s meeting due to funding. The council plans on working on more plans for this year’s Halloween festival. Mayor George Hood will announce the official date for the Borough’s Halloween celebration Wednesday.
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Editor shares ways to stay safe online at home, school JAKE SLEBODNICK Managing Editor J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu @ThePennIUP
October has many interesting aspects to look forward to. The main one being Halloween and the start of the holiday season; another being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But most people often forget one that could save your online profile: Cyber Security Awareness Month. We, as a society, are logged onto our mobile devices and social networks more than we are in our own reality, which leaves people vulnerable to having their information hacked, stolen or sold on the dark web. In addition, the internet is the epicenter of malicious content and spyware that can track your every move online or, even worse, give someone unauthorized access into your banking or other personal information. In a university-wide email from Amanda Marshall, coordinator of user services for IUP’s IT Services, we are more vulnerable to social engineering attacks since “these attacks are made easier during a time of change and confusion, such as COVID-19, when learning and working remotely has become a social norm.” This attack is a form of psycho-
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. logical manipulation that gains trust from users in order to allow hackers access to personal information through baiting, phishing, pretexting, scareware and spear phishing. Marshall said phishing is the more prevalent form of social engineering since it asks for personal information like a cell phone number or credit card/banking information and passwords. She says those emails will convince users to click a link, open an attachment, or other form of performing a certain task, and will appear as if they were sent by an authorized source. “Phishing messages are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect,” Marshall said in her email. “[They] can trick you into running malicious software that could allow cybercriminals to take control of your computer, log your keystrokes or access business-related content and/or personal or
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financial information.” One concern that’s raised from this is what the difference is between phishing and spear phishing. In layman’s terms, when one physically goes spear fishing, a certain fish is targeted since only one spear can be used per throw. With that being said, online spear phishing is targeted toward one user, where generic phishing is sent to a group of people. Marshall also introduced two new forms of phishing in her email: smishing and vishing. Smishing is using SMS (text) messaging to provide social engineers with personal information, and vishing uses the same concept, but over voice calling. Scareware aims to do as the name suggests: scare users into purchasing meaningless software that hacks into one’s device to access personal information. According to Norton, the fifthbest antivirus software program
per U.S. News and World Report, scareware often comes in pop-up ads that warn users to act fast and download their bugged products before they have a chance to think about it. Norton also says that getting rid of scareware is difficult to do since clicking the “X” button on the ad will more than likely open up more scareware. An example of pretexting is when a hacker contacts a user under the guise of someone of higher power, like a CEO or director, to obtain confidential information about a bank, major corporation, etc. Normally, if a social engineer can tell a user the name of an organization, details about it or enough evidence to gain a user’s trust, they will obtain confidential information about an organization that could possibly be detrimental to it. Lastly, baiting attracts a user’s attention since it promises them an item or good if they complete a task or click a link. This form piques one’s curiosity to see if they will get whatever is promised in return even if the offer seems “too perfect.” One type of baiting is if someone finds an unattended USB drive laying around with “COMPLETE MUSIC LIBRARY” written on it, another person is bound to pick it up, see what they believe to be
the world’s music collection in their hands and plug it into their laptop or computer to see if it has the music promised, and not realize the drive contained malware that is now downloaded to their device. One way to prevent falling for a baiting scam is asking yourself if the opportunity presented to you seems “too good to be true.” If it seems too good, it most likely is. The golden rule of maintaining a secure online profile is to never provide personal information, such as account passwords, usernames, bank or credit details, etc. through messaging. Another detection method is if an email says to click a link or your account will be deleted, or if an email has an attachment that is unrecognizable. Lastly, if an email prompts you with an email that begins with “Dear User/Customer” or if it asks you to purchase a type of gift or pre-paid credit card. Marshall warns students to stay vigilant when viewing and responding to any forms of communication, remain cognizant of fake login pages and to look at email addresses when responding to emails and not just display names. Students that experience phishing attempts should forward them as attachments to abuse@ iup.edu, and any questions or concerns regarding antivirus software for students or cyber security tips should contact IT Services at (724) 357-4000.
Pittsburgh paper picketers still fighting for fair contracts MARTY WEAVER Staff Writer zglz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh members, joined by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, have been picketing the Post-Gazette since Sept. 18. A popular rallying cry in the guild (@PGHGuild) is “Stop the Blocks,” which is a bit of a play-on-words. The Post-Gazette’s editor-in-chief, John Block, has essentially “blocked” efforts to negotiate fair contracts. “...I am calling on the Blocks to do the right thing, the moral thing, the decent thing, not – especially for all of you, but also for Western Pennsylvania because this paper is an asset that belongs to all of us,” Fetterman said to the picketing crowd outside the Post-Gazette newsroom Sept. 18. “We need this in western Pennsylvania. Your contribution informs us all. You deserve to be compensated fairly and justly for those efforts.”
(Facebook) The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers started picketing Sept. 18. The Block family also owns The Blade in Toledo, Ohio. According to the Blade Guild (@bladeguild), Sept. 22 marked the 18-year anniversary of workers’ last pay raise. On Sept. 25, the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council (@AlleghenyLabor), which “represent[s] 100,000 workers in western PA” according to its Twitter bio, joined the guild at the Post-Gazette newsroom in a show of solidarity. The labor rally at 358 N. Shore Drive saw dozens of supporters, most if not all wearing masks. The cherry on top was a plane that flew
overhead, tugging a sign that “Fair Contract Now. #NoPGWithoutMe.” Fetterman again joined the rally and so did Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto. “...The first word of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is ‘Pittsburgh,’” Peduto said to the crowd. “And we believe, as elected officials, that Pittsburghers respect workers. And that is what makes us special as a city. “The labor movement was created here, on this ground, by people like my grandfather. And we have an obligation to respect that, and
to make sure that one thing is held true: negotiate a fair contract.” Just two days later, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh’s President, Michael Fuoco, resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct, originally reported by Mike Elk of PayDay Report: https://paydayreport.com/ahead-of-strike-pittsburgh-newsguild-prez-accused-ofsexual-misconduct/. “The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh is fully committed to upholding the policy, which opposes all forms of discrimination,” the Guild said in a statement found at https:// pghguild.com/2020/09/27/newspaper-guild-statement-on-the-resignation-of-michael-a-fuoco/. The actions of a few shouldn’t be used to discredit the entire movement, though. The Guild came back swinging Oct. 3, picketing directly in front of John Block’s house. “Hey hey! Ho ho! Richard Lowe has got to go!” the crowd chanted while pacing in front of Block’s palatial residence in Shadyside.
The aforementioned Lowe is the lawyer from Tennessee that the Blocks hired to delay negotiations. Bringing us back to the present, the Guild spent Saturday picketing a rather unorthodox location. “Today we’re in front of John Block’s 1%-er club, the Duquesne Club in Downtown Pittsburgh,” the Guild tweeted. “It costs thousands of dollars per year to be a member here, yet Block continues to slash our health benefits and deny us a contract.” “A couple of local legends joined @PGHGuild members downtown today to support our call for a fair contract,” tweeted Steve Mellon (@ stevemellon412), a Post-Gazette worker. Those “legends” were activist, guitarist and “World’s Grievance Man” Mike Stout and IUP’s own Charles McCollester, a retired professor of industrial and labor relations. McCollester was the director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Study of Labor Relations, which closed in 2010.
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Opinion
COVID-19, social injustice and sports: A review The sport’s world experienced plenty of hardship in 2020. From COVID-19 almost dooming every major sport and teams facing backlash from fans because of political views, this has to be considered the most troubling year in sports history. However, through all the chaos, there were some good features.
The Good
We’ll begin with the good side of sports. Starting with the biggest note of all, the National Basketball Association (NBA) managed to resume its regular season and finish with no COVID-19 cases in the Orlando bubble. Commissioner Adam Silver, while widely criticized for allowing players to share social views on the court, developed a plan to maintain player safety while leading the resurgence of professional sports in a panic-stricken world. According to a tweet by Front Office Sports, Silver also informed league employees that they “will receive a $1,000 bonus and four Fridays off beginning Oct. 30 as well as Thanksgiving week as a ‘thank you’ for their work this season.” No matter how you look at the NBA this past season, it should be no doubt Silver won over sports fans everywhere for devising a secure plan that saw an exciting conclusion to the 2019-20 NBA season. The National Hockey League (NHL) also adapted efficiently to the pandemic by introducing fans to the Stanley Cup Playoffs as soon as sports resumed. Some may say the 24-team playoff brought the validity of qualifying teams into question, but it’s a temporary solution for the problem at hand. In addition, it gave more teams a chance to qualify for the Cup following months of inactivity. In all honesty, it seems that the NHL gave every ounce of opportunity to worthy teams, and in the end, we were treated to a fantastic Stanley Cup Final between the Dallas Stars and
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(Wikimedia Commons/The Conversation) Both MLB and NFL dealt with issues during the unusual sports year. Tampa Bay Lightning. The National Football League (NFL) came in as the metaphoric final Jenga block where the future of sports would either crumble or stand strong. While a few teams, notably the Tennessee Titans, experienced COVID complications, the season is going strong heading into week 6. In addition, fans continue to be treated by stand-out performances by rookies on all teams. Alongside the NFL, NCAA football is finding its balance as more conferences resume activities and plan to play games with an adjusted schedule. Major League Baseball (MLB) completed its abridged 60-game regular season and is in the
League Championship Series (LCS) stage of its 2020 postseason. MLB expanded to a 16-team playoff tree that allowed 8 teams from both the American and National Leagues to contend for a playoff spot. We saw teams like the Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins and Toronto clinch playoff spots, where they normally wouldn’t smell playoff aspirations if a normal season happened. In addition, the last place team in the league would clinch the No. 1 overall draft pick with a record that doesn’t look as bad as opposed to a normal season.
The Bad
As always, when something good happens, bad things are
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alongside them. MLB found itself in a pit of COVID outbreaks, criticism from fans when its 60-game season began and injuries. Rumors circulated that MLB would cancel its season after outbreaks occurred in the Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds organizations, as well as rumors of outbreaks in the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. Fans thought the rush for a season came at a cost of little plans to neutralize outbreaks and how to handle schedule adjustments because of them. The next factor was the amount of injuries seen from all around the league. One of the affected clubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, dealt with
a slew of injuries that shelved a majority of its starting roster. Because of this, the Bucs were forced to recall prospects from their alternate training site in Altoona almost every day due to the mass amount of injuries. Other clubs also dealt with the injury bug, and the main reason for this is the lack of preparation time for the season. Prior to July 23, players only had routine training in the early parts of March in Spring Training before operations ceased. If players had more time to prepare for the season, injuries could’ve reduced by 25 percent. The NFL and NBA saw their issues spread to the realm of social justice. Due to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, stars from each league utilized these platforms to spread racism awareness and unity among all players, and while this isn’t the issue, the main problem was the revolt of fans. Fans provided major backlash when athletes like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes took moments either before or after games, or wore apparel spreading social justice awareness saying that professional sports are becoming more of a political platform instead of an escape from the troubled world around us. What they fail to remember is that these athletes are humans too and they deal with the same social issues as we do on a daily basis. If anything, they’re smart for using said platforms to voice their opinions because they know they’ll be heard due to their valor. The final issue with COVID-19 throwing a wrench into the sports world is the cancellation of IUP football. Now we don’t have the IUP and Slippery Rock rivalry this year nor do we have the Coal Bowl. Let’s hope 2021 brings better fortunes in sports.
Brought to you by: The Penn Staff
Opinion
Culture IUP virtual homecoming parade Culture Editor: Katelin Pompa – xzgw@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Haley Brown – tbfx@iup.edu
‘A Walk Down Memory Lane’
A car cruises down Philadelphia Street for homecoming (left) and a group of friends poses together for homecoming (right). RACHEL FOOR Staff Writer R.G.Foor@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 IUP homecoming live parade was replaced with a virtual one Oct. 10. The virtual parade, titled “A Walk Down Memory Lane,” was a video montage that featured photos from the past 50 years of IUP homecoming parades set to music by the IUP Marching Band. This video was live streamed on IUP’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. The video has since been viewed over 200 times. “I think homecoming – the meaning behind it doesn’t go away even when things have to be different,” Julianna Weddings (senior, music), commanding officer in the IUP Marching Band, said. “So, even though we’re going through all these different things and following different guidelines this year, you know it’s still IUP. It’s still homecoming. It’s still the
Culture
celebration. So, I think the aspects are still there.” Despite the circumstances, the IUP Marching Band was still able to perform for homecoming. On Oct. 3, they began the homecoming festivities by holding a concert in Miller Stadium. Tickets to the performance were limited to guests of the band members, however, because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The event was live streamed on IUP’s Homecoming Facebook event page. The concert included the recognition of senior band members. “When all of this broke out, there was a bit of concern about whether or not we would be able to have our season,” Weddings said. “Especially being a senior, it was concerning because this is our last chance to be a part of ‘The Legend’ and perform as a part of ‘The Legend.’” Isiah Buzdygon (senior, music), assisting officer in the IUP Marching Band, gave his take on the on this years parade.
“I mean, we obviously still have to abide by all the CDC guidelines, and that’s not something we’ve had to do in the past,” he said. “So that’s definitely different. That arises some different challenges in a lot of our ensembles, but we’re definitely working around it. Just being able to do it at all and have our performance be part of the alternative homecoming festivities this year – I’m really excited.” The homecoming celebrations ended Oct. 10 with “The Coach’s Show Special: IUP Homecoming.” The video, which has been posted on IUP’s YouTube channel and athletic’s Facebook page, featured legendary coach Frank Cignetti and Sports Information Director Ryan Rebholz discussing the 2005 IUP vs. Slippery Rock homecoming game. Following “The Coach’s Show,” the entire game was shown with the 2020 band hosting the halftime show. To view the videos of IUP’s 2020 virtual homecoming events, you can visit their Facebook page and YouTube channel.
October 14, 2020
(Courtesy of IUP YouTube Page)
(Courtesy of IUP YouTube Page)
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Professors update their progress regarding Zoom classes EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP With universities across the country switching to a remote-style learning, students aren’t the only ones who have struggled to adapt in these trying times. It has been six months that students and professors have struggled. The faculty of IUP has seen a lot of shortcomings in the fall semester due to most classes going remote. Since many classes are taking place through Zoom, a virtual semester has forced professors to learn technology that they normally were not used to. It has also meant trying to find new ways to teach course material that was easier when classes met in person. “I have seen a lot of professors get frustrated,” Austin Dukes (senior, criminology) said. “It seems to be taking a toll on them.” IUP’s Executive Director of Media Relations Michelle Fryling has not heard another specific conversations or complaints from faculty, but she is aware that the semester has been tricky. “I think every faculty member is having their own unique experiences and are working out best ways to
teach during these unusual times,” she said. Not only has remote classes been a struggle, but professors are also facing the possibility of retrenchment. It would see the loss of approximately 120 members of staff. These changes have already affected some now former professors. Dr. Stacey Patrick was a professor in the geography department until the end on last semester. “I was one of the many adjunct faculty who were laid off at the end of the spring 2020 semester,” she said. Patrick had been a professor at IUP for 13 years before being let go. “My position was already vulnerable due to the decreasing enrollment at IUP,” she said. “But the COVID-related housing refund really put the budget into crisis.” Despite no longer working with the school, Patrick still wishes students and faculty the best through the difficult changes. “Having been through the extraordinarily difficult last half of the semester we all endured in the spring; I know how terribly challenging it is right now.” However difficult remote learning may be, not all professors find themselves facing problems.
Dr. Stanford Mukasa is a journalism professor. For him, the semester has been met with “smooth sailing.” Since 2002, Mukasa has been teaching students via online classes at both IUP and universities around the globe. “My online courses are designed to simulate the face-to-face teaching environment by posting video recorded lectures on D2L and taking ‘virtual’ attendance during class times,” he said. The biggest issue Mukasa has faced is through internet issues some students have encountered, and he had seen this issue especially with international universities. Mukasa said he believed, overall, students had enough understanding of technology that made it easy to teach remotely. “Shifting to online learning was natural for them.” Professors and students alike will have more of a chance to get used to learning and teaching remotely as spring 2021 approaches. As of Oct. 6, it was made official by the IUP administration that the next semester will be set up the same way. As for retrenchment, there is no say on which professors will be facing the loss of their job, but those who do will find out starting at the end of the month.
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Netflix releases new show with all deaf cast Heather Bair News Editor zzzx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP
This article contains opinion. A new reality series hit Netflix Oct. 9 that gave the hearing world an insight to a different type of community. “Deaf U” follows four students enrolled at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. The first season is only eight episodes long with the episodes lasting roughly 28 minutes each. Each episode ends on a cliff-hanger type ending, and you will become invested in the story by the end of the first episode. While the cast is Deaf, 50 percent of the behind-the-scenes crew is Deaf as well. The other half is either hard-of-hearing or hearing. Nyle DiMarco, an actor, activist and model, is the executive producer. He’s been promoting “Deaf U” since September when the first trailer dropped. The first season focuses on eight different students and gives an insight into their lives as members of the Deaf community. It centers around Rodney Burford who has a cochlear implant and uses both American Sign Language (ASL) and verbal means of communication; Cheyenna Clearbrook, a Deaf influencer and YouTuber; Tessa Lewis, a member of the ‘elite’ group at Gallaudet; Alexa Paulay-Simmons, another member of the ‘elite’ group who has multiple relationships throughout the show; Renate Rose, an outspoken activist who is dating Tayla, another student; Daequan “DQ” Taylor, a hard-ofhearing football player who was born into a hearing family; and Dalton Taylor, no relation to Daequan, who is also a football player. Throughout the show, the audience learns about the different lifestyles that are not all that different than those in the hearing community. Cheyenna receives negative feedback from Tessa and other members of the ‘elite’ or popular group at Gallaudet. The ‘elite,’ she explains through ASL, are members who were born into Deaf families who have been Deaf for generations and. They went to all Deaf
schools, grew up together and have money. The ‘elite’ bully Cheyenna’s feedback centers around her videos being more inclusive of the hearing community when the hearing community needs to be inclusive of the Deaf. In her videos, Cheyenna enunciates well and puts closed captioning (subtitles) on them. Tessa, the apparent leader of the ‘elite’ group, is the main one upset. In a quiet meeting with Alexa, who is a member of the ‘elite’ group but is also finding her own way, Cheyenna explains how attacked she felt. Renate and Tayla are dating and are very outspoken about human rights such as LGBTQ+ issues and women’s rights. They go to a poetry reading, and Renate gets very provocative during her performance of a poem she wrote for Tayla. Dalton, DQ and Rodney are close friends. Rodney invites DQ home with him for a family dinner. DQ, who grew up without a family, wants nothing more and feels loved and accepted at the dinner table. It appears that Rodney’s father knows ASL, but his mother and sister are hearing. As a Child of a Deaf adult (CODA), I found the show to be a perfect example of what college is like, not only for a Deaf student. The show incorporates the ups and downs of relationships prior and during the college years, as well as the peer pressure we all feel to fit in. Each episode seems to focus on a specific person, but it also includes the others. In the show, it’s stated that the Deaf community is so small that everyone knows everyone, and if one person knows that something happened, the entire community will know it happened. Also, the Deaf community does not hide anything from anyone. They are very open with every topic out there. “Deaf U” brings representation to the table with the different stories and experiences all the students have gone through. It ends on a cliffhanger, almost like a plot twist, that you never saw coming. If you’re looking for a different show to binge while learning something new, definitely check out “Deaf U” on Netflix.
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October 14, 2020
Virtual homecoming Enjoying music in the comfort of your home HALEY BROWN
Lead Culture Writer
tbfx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP
Coronavirus may have cancelled many concerts and performances this year, but IUP’s Homecoming Kickoff Concert was fortunately not one of those casualties. On Oct. 8, IUP’s Student Activity Committee (STATIC) hosted their annual homecoming concert as usual, but this year, they went fully digital. This year, At the beginning of the homecoming celebration week, STATIC was proud to present a live concert over the Zoom platform that ran for two hours and ended with a Q&A portion with one of the two performers featured during the concert. The concert was free for the IUP community and did not require any preregistration. Like all of the STATIC events this semester, the only requirement to attend the virtual celebration concert was to have access to the Zoom meeting link or Zoom meeting ID as well as the password, all of which were provided on the STATIC website. The zoom meeting waiting room opened at 7:30 p.m., and the concert began promptly at 8 p.m. The performers of the concert this year were rapper, singer and songwriter who goes by the name “D Smoke” and the hip-hop artist and rapper known as “Flawless Real Talk.” The show kicked off with the performance set of Flawless Real Talk who rapped some of his most popular songs, which including the songs “On My Way” and “It’s Real.” The artist from Rhode Island energetically bobbed his way through his entire virtual set alongside the band. Their stage included plenty of lights and could easily be compared to a laser light show throughout the performance. The drummer, keyboardist and other musicians seemed like they were also having a fantastic time. He often saluted IUP by repeating the name of the university
throughout his screen time at certain opportunistic points in a handful of his songs. There were a few short pauses during the performance that seemed like technical difficulties, but they were smoothly shaken off by the STATIC team. They explained to the meeting viewers that they were a brief set changes. The second performer was D Smoke, a hip-hop artist and rapper from California, who is also wellknown for winning the first season of Netflix’s music competition show “Rhythm and Flow” in October of last year. He performed some of his most well-known songs during his set as well. His stage consisted of a chain link fence, plenty of smoke (hopefully the pun was intended) and a full-sized prop car that he utilized to perform some of his songs while sitting on its hood. D Smoke was energetic and excited. He even walked off his stage at one point during his set to retrieve an IUP sweatshirt which he wore for the rest of his performance. Many of his songs included Spanish lyrics, which he explained the significance of during the Q&A section. He also performed many parts of his songs by accompanying himself live on the keyboard set up on his stage. During the Q&A following the performances, two STATIC members led the question portion with D Smoke. The questions were sent in earlier or by viewers during the performances to STATIC through email or through direct message on STATIC’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. D Smoke was asked questions that ranged from the importance of his inclusion of the Spanish language in his song lyrics to what musician inspired him the most to become the artist that he is today. He answered each question genuinely and entertained the viewers while doing so by playing a lovely idle tune on the keyboard included on his stage while he explained each of his answers to the audience.
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(Girasol_Monge/Pixabay)
Witches are known for their spirituality and reading tarot cards.
Witches didn’t always wield wands, cast spells Heather Bair News Editor zzzx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP We’ve all heard of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and 1693, but witches have been claimed to be around as far back as the 1200’s. In school, we’re taught that witches are bad and, according to L. Frank Baum, the author of “The Wizard of Oz” story, witches can be bad or good, like the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North. However, witches have been around for centuries, but they weren’t always as bad as some cultures have made them out to be.
The History of the Witch The first recollection in written history comes from the 1200’s, when Pope Gregory IX had authorized the killing of women who defined or who showed “symptoms” of being a witch. This included evidence of dancing with the devil, flying on broomsticks, holding rituals, and many more things. However, the “evidence” wasn’t always there. If a woman showed even the slightest emotion, she could be deemed a witch. If a woman talked back to a male in higher authority like her father, husband, or older brother, she could be deemed a witch. If a woman showed a little leg, such as her ankle, she was a witch. “Witch” has its origins from
the Old English word “Wicca,” which is a religion from the mid20th Century. It is a pre-Christian religion that celebrates the earth and all ways. Early Christians as well as modern-day Christianity, Catholicism and Judaism frown upon Wicca as a religion, since the Bible and Quran condemn the use of magic, like those that practice Wicca use. In 1486, a book was written by two German Dominicans. The book was called “Malleus Maleficarum,” which translated, means “The Hammer of Witches.” The book told of ways to identify, interrogate, and hunt witches. In the years between 1500 and 1660, over 80,000 women who were suspected of witchcraft and being a witch were put to death, usually by burning at the stake or execution-style of being hanged. Most of us know about witches from the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, in Salem, Mass. They began when a nine-year-old girl named Elizabeth Parris and her friend, 11-year-old Abigail Williams, begun suffering from what we know today as seizures and uncontrolled screaming. Modern studies have found that this may be due to poisoning by a fungus that caused spasms and delusions. As more women started to exhibit symptoms, mass hysteria swept through the town Parris and Williams lived in. Three women were accused of witchcraft, the most common of all being Sarah Good. She, her friend Sarah Osborn, and Tituba, a woman Parris’s father enslaved, were accused of
activities that involved witchcraft. Tituba “confessed” to being a witch and began giving names to those who were in charge in the village, namely the soldiers, who called themselves “witch hunters” after the events took place. June 10 became a titular day in the history of the Salem Witch Trials. Bridget Bishop was the first woman on American soil to be put to death due to being accused of being a witch. After Bishop, around 150 people were accused and some 18 were put to death, six of those being men who were also executed. Today, there are modern witches who still practice Wicca, yet they are not put to death for it. Instead, they are welcome to embrace their religion despite the disapproving religions.
Curses, Hexes, Spells, Oh My When it comes to witches, most everyone’s first thought is that of a witch putting a spell on someone, cursing or hexing someone. However, these three things are completely different, and they aren’t what Walt Disney tried to tell us with his fairytales. Curses are defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a “solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something.” Modern-day witches who practice Wicca have a motto of “harm none.” They follow the “Book of Shadows,” which is their religious
text. They try to live a balanced, peaceful and tolerant life in balance with humanity, nature and worldly good. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “hex” as “to cast a spell on, to bewitch, a magic spell.” This is the most common of magic amongst those who are not witches. Hexes can be good or evil, as in they can bring you prosperity or bring evil into your life. Spells are “a form of words used as a magical charm or incantation,” according to Merriam-Webster. In the popular children’s show, “Dragon Tales,” the chant the two kids do to go to Dragon Land while holding the enchanted dragon scale is a “spell.” Spells are a way to get something you want, to invite protection into your life or other emotions such as love and peace. Today’s curses, hexes and spells are usually to stop someone from doing evil either to themselves or to others. It’s safe to say that modern-day witches are not as evil as they have been said to be in the past. If you were to receive a potion from a witch, it would probably be an herbal remedy to help heal an illness rather than a harmful hex to bring evil into a person’s life.
Are you a good witch or a bad witch? If you ask someone to name a famous witch, chances are they’ll go to Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” or the show “Sabrina, The Teen-
age Witch.” In “The Wizard of Oz,” the bad witch is The Wicked Witch of the West. She torments Dorothy and her friends while they try to make it to the Emerald City. She concocts a sleeping potion while everyone is in the Poppy Field, and she has a crystal ball in which she can see throughout the Land of Oz and she flies on a broomstick. To counteract the bad witch, Baum put in Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Glinda, in stark contrast to the all-black outfit of the Wicked Witch, is dressed in glitters and sparkles and a pink dress with a silver crown. Her voice is smooth and lilting and she gives Dorothy a protective kiss on her forehead when she begins her journey. In Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked” series, we learn more about The Wicked Witch, Elphaba, and the Good Witch, Glinda – formerly Galinda, as a child. We learn that, even if someone is a bad witch, they can be good if they so choose. Witches have made their way into culture since fairy tales. In Disney movies, the villain is most likely a witch. In shows like “Charmed,” “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch” and “Witches of East End,” they’re gaining popularity. Witches may have gotten a bad rap throughout history, but times can always change, and people can always change perception. If you come across a witch during this spooky season, have a cup of tea with them and see just what they’re all about. Happy haunting.
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Sports Indiana loses Ed Fry
Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu
‘Our success came from the support that he created for the team’
Jeff Hart Sports Editor J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Is it possible to be more than just a man? Is it possible to be the embodiment of an entire team, college and community? If it is, Ed Fry is the embodiment of all those things. IUP and the entire Indiana community lost someone truly special with the passing of Ed Fry. On Oct. 3, Fry passed away at his home in Somerset at the age of 80. Fry has left a lasting impact on this community that will not ever be forgotten. Fry came onto the scene at the university in 1966 when he accepted a teaching position with IUP. Growing up in McKeesport, Pa., Fry had surprisingly never heard of IUP. Shortly after his hiring, Fry took on the job of becoming a coach for the men’s cross country and track and field teams at different capacities. Before his career at IUP, Fry attended St. Peter’s High School where they did not have athletic programs at the school. After high school, Fry went to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, with a childhood friend. While there, he joined the cross country team and shortly developed an affinity and a passion for the sport that would lead him down a life of unimaginable opportunity and blessings. After an injury riddled sophomore year at Loras, he transferred to DePaul University where he soon found success with their cross country program. Fry was so skilled; he was able to win his first race at the
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university and soon after received a full scholarship from his first performance. As an athlete, he was able to perform at a dominant level where he was able to have an undefeated senior year in 1962. Despite having little background in the sport, Fry wanted to become involved and give back to others the joy he got from running. “I learned a lot from training and running,” said Fry in a 2010 interview, “I figured I could pass those things on.” Fry started with a small cross country program that only consisted of four members when he was hired. Fry worked tirelessly at recruiting and was able to bring people in with his almost infectious presence. “He had this presence that you couldn’t describe,” said alumnus Sean Strauman. Because of this presence, Fry was able to build a program that was deep with runners and became a powerhouse cross country program in just less than a decade. Fry was able to get the most out of his athletes, and that showed in the results the team was able to get. Between 1972-83, the men’s cross country team won five Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) titles. What is even more impressive, and speaks to Fry’s beautiful character, Fry was doing all of this for free. He was only paid once he created the IUP Women’s Cross Country team. Athletic Director Ruth Podbielski hired Fry as the coach for the new women’s program, and Fry was able to be compensated for the countless hours of hard work and dedication to his athletes. Under his guidance, the women’s team won seven PSAC championships between 1980-90. He fulfilled his roles with the teams along with helping other programs
within the department as well. Fry was rewarded with being inducted into the Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Furthermore, the community wanted to recognize his impact on the community and named the newly built basketball complex the Ed Fry Arena. At the end of the day, Fry led a career of success and accomplishments that span a period of 43 years at IUP. Even among all the accolades and achievements, Fry leaves behind one thing that will carry on his legacy for years to come: unbreakable bonds with his athletes. Fry was only able to have so much success because of his unyielding passion and dedication to his athletes. Fry saw these students as so much more than athletes. He knew that at the end of the day, “It wasn’t win at all cost, but do the best you can,” as Fry so eloquently stated years ago. This philosophy was obvious to everyone around Fry. Former coach Bob Raemore coached alongside Fry for years and was able to speak to his character before his hall of fame induction. “He was always thinking about the athletes,” Raemore said. “It was always about the kids. It was never about him. He was not concerned with the won-loss record or coach of this or coach of that awards. He wanted to see the kids getting better, regardless of what place that meant. “He was intense. Everybody always knew he was intense, but not like basketball coaches, and never like football coaches. He was calm. He was always kind of in tune with his athletes, and they always had a plan. They knew what they wanted to do. He had a plan, and he just tried to stick by it. But not all plans work out.” Story continued on page 19
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(iup.edu) Fry left such an impact that his name will live on.
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(iupathletics) Fry was able to have success at every level with cross country and track and field.
Fry leaves behind more than a legacy Story continued from page 18
Strauman knew about this all too well. He had an outstanding IUP career in track and field and won a national title in the 800-meter race in 2008. Strauman accredited his win to Fry and Dr. Raemore. He was one of the athletes that was lucky enough to truly have their lives touched by a man who made a difference to so many in during his time with the Indiana community. “Being a professor, he was so involved with student life. He had their best interests at heart,” Strauman said. "He came to practice every day with an infectious smile, a positive attitude and an unwavering commitment to making each of us better. Regardless of talent level, coach valued you as a person and as a contributor to the program,” former track and field/cross country athlete Brett Halter said in a press release by the IUP athletic department on Oct. 6. “Ed was more than a coach; he was a friend, a motivator and there was never any doubt when I got married in 1981, I asked him to be my best man, “ former track and field/cross country athlete Mike Higgins said in a press release by the IUP athletic department on Oct. 6.
Fry was able to make connections “Spend the rest of their lives missthat lasted decades and will allow ing,” described Strauman. his legacy to live on forever. Fry was an individual who was “Coach Fry was a guiding force down-to-earth and never got that touched countless lives, caught up in his own headlines or including mine, through years of titles. Fry always pushed away credit education and coaching,” former for his work with his athletes. track and field/cross country runner Even at his hall of fame inducChad Hurley said in the Oct. 6 IUP tion, Fry remained true to himself. athletics press release. “I appreciate all the athletes in this Fry had a way of connecting with county, and there’s a great history,” his athletes in a way that many could he said, “and I’m just humbled to not to put into words. be a part of it.” One of the biggest Even in one of his reasons Fry was able interviews with the to have success, and Indiana Gazette in help countless others 2010, Fry did not want achieve success was to have a traditional the fact that he expeinterview with writer rienced all the good Mirza Zukic. moments, the bad Instead, he wanted moments, and everyto play disc golf with thing in between. Zukic in order to be “Ed would always able to get to know tell me it was a fourhim and be able to year process, and I talk to him. needed to believe in “He pushed away (iup.edu) all the credit,” said the system,” Strauman said. “One time Fry (left) and Hurley Strauman. “He did (right) after Hurley I didn’t have a great this, and it made the race he told me that I made a donation to rest of us want to just needed to shake the KCAC emulate his selflessit off, and we were ness.” gonna get back to work.” It takes someone with outstandFry was there for his athletes on ing character to push away credit. and off the track. Even long after Especially when someone like Fry their careers at IUP, these athletes accomplished the things he did at
the heights that he had to. No one would have questioned if he had a right to take credit for this. Fry built a program from nothing, all while doing it for free for almost a decade. Even with all that, he still remained humble. It was as he said years ago, and as his former athletes say now: it was about the athlete first, winning later. Even with the history of winning and all the memories and momentous occasions, the things that athletes seem to think of first are small moments with Fry. “He loved playing cards. He was always playing with us,” said Strauman. “After practice or on the bus, he loved passing the time with us and we would play card games with him for hours.” Memories like this speak to who Fry was as an individual. He wasn’t just a coach to these athletes. He was a role model, no even more than that: a friend. Fry has had 80 years to build meaningful friendships that span generations and locations. Even someone as accomplished as YouTube co-founder and IUP graduate Chad Hurley will always remember the times and memories that Fry had built with him. His name will continue to live on forever. Fry’s name has become
synonymous with the track and field and cross country programs. He was so beloved that the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) dedicated their arena to him and named it after him in his honor. When a man is able to do so much in so little time, it truly speaks volume to the amazing character that they exude to others. Fry leaves behind not just his name, but a legacy that means so much more to the people whose lives he touched and his family. Athlete, coach, champion, winner, family man, mentor, role-model, humble, and so many more words are what can be used to describe Ed Fry. But no words can describe what he meant to this community. Fry leaves behind hundreds of people who he has impacted so deeply. They are able to remember and speak so brightly on the times and memories they had with their coach. The entire IUP and Indiana community mourns the loss of one truly special individual who will not soon be forgotten. To the Fry family and all those whose lives he has touched, I and everyone at The Penn, give our deepest condolences. Fry may be gone, but he will always live on in the lives of all those he came to know and love.
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Athletics starts speaker series for athletes BRAD O’HARA Sports Writer B.L.Ohara@iup.edu @ThePennIUP
In light of the cancellation of fall sports, IUP athletics has worked to provide programming for student athletes to keep them motivated and engaged. Through this, they have started a five-part speaker series that kicked off Oct. 6. The first speaker was Dr. Logan Edwards. He is a professor, program coordinator and athletic assistant though the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. His roles have allowed him to work with student athletes both in competition and academics. Most of what he talked about was mental health and wellness during these trying times. Edwards covered a sense of lost identity and finding your selfworth outside of athletics. His words of encouragement not only applied to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also life after college. IUP Athletic Director Todd Garzarelli said, “The feedback that we got back was incredible. Dr. Edwards did an excellent job,
and our student athletes were able to utilize many of the tips and tools that he provided during his presentation.” This evaluation was supported by IUP swimmer, Paige Mikesell (junior, health and physical education). “I really liked the way that Dr. Edwards approached the topic of mental health,” Mikesell said. “Mental health is so important, and I do not think that it is talked about enough. So, it was nice to see our athletics program taking that extra step to have this speaker for its student-athletes. “I think that a lot of athletes, including myself, struggle with their mental health everyday but are too scared to do anything about it or simply do not know what to do about it. Dr. Edwards was able to introduce mental
health as well as ways that we can cope with everything that is going on in the world today, which I believe was very beneficial.”
The speaker series will dive into more topics than just mental health as they move forward. The next speaker will be Dave Reed. He graduated from IUP and proceeded to hold roles as a state representative and majority house leader. The talk will be focused on voting and its importance as we approach the 2020 presidential election. “With the push for young voting to be involved and the sense of urgency to vote, we
wanted to make sure we provided our student-athletes with an educational platform to understand what both parties stand for, how it will affect them as individuals and how they can actually register to vote, where to go to vote,” Garzarelli said. “It is important to not to just ask are youth to vote but to also provide them with the education on how they can make a difference and actually how to vote.” After Reed, there will be three more speakers in the series. The next being author and motivational speaker John Gordon. He will address leadership and culture. He will look to inspire students to focus on first winning in the locker room before taking the field. This is a great opportunity for both IUP athletes and the university to really help spread awareness to the student athlete that could prove helpful to them in their futures.
In a continually changing world, athletes are now being faced with more pressure than ever, and it is paramount that programs like these are used to help prepare athletes for what may lie ahead for them. Garzarelli and the department understands this, and he echoed these feelings in a statement to IUP Athletics. “We are very proud to announce this speaker series and provide a unique way for our student-athletes to continue to engage in a positive atmosphere in the current climate,” said Garzarelli. “As we adapt to these ever-changing times, it is critical for our department to provide our student-athletes additional tools to be successful.” With one down and two scheduled, it will be intriguing to see what Garzarelli and IUP athletics have in store for the remainder of the series. However, one thing is for sure. This is giving student athletes a wonderful opportunity to grow as individuals both in and out of competition through education, knowledge and experience.
(DLA.com) The Athletics department is making huge strides in athlete development and preparation.
