DON’T FORGET: ELECTION DAY IS NOV. 2.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Vol. 88 No. 8
51 W. College St. Waynesburg, PA 15370
‘So much blood’
Student injured in off-campus fight remains hospitalized; police investigation continues
By Kaitlin Edwards and Jon Ledyard
The confrontation continued after the Bethany student returned with others who then allegedly assaulted several Waynesburg students. Chief of Police Timothy Hawfield confirmed that they were investigating any role Bethany College students had played in the incident. “Involvement of
Yellow Jacket Staff Waynesburg Borough Police are investigating an off-campus incident involving Waynesburg University and Bethany College students Sunday morning that left two students hospitalized. Waynesburg University
For more information, see page A4. students Tyler Fatigante, 19, and Zachary Fatigante, 21, of Avonworth, were hospitalized Sunday morning after an off-campus incident, according to Waynesburg Borough Police. As of Wednesday morning, Tyler Fatigante
had been released from Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., while Zachary Fatigante remains hospitalized in fair condition. The students were injured following an altercation occurring off-campus allegedly sparked by a Bethany College student ejected from a party, according to students present.
Bethany is unconfirmed, but we are looking into it,” said Hawfield. According to Waynesburg University student, Caitlyn Bolon, 19, the incident began at a party held at 376 N. Richhill St. The male student from Bethany College allegedly shoved her into a wall after she attempted to walk around him toward
the door, Bolon said. Senior Ryan McWreath, who was also at the party, blamed the incident on the Bethany student. “He was basically there causing trouble,” said McWreath. “He was pushing people and even pushing girls at one point.” See POLICE on A4
University to host mock crime scene By Stephanie Laing Editorial Assistant High school students will swarm the Waynesburg University campus next Saturday morning. The Department of Criminal Justice Administration and the Office of Admissions will host a Mock Crime Scene for 50-60 high school students interested in pursuing careers in criminal justice and forensic science. “The purpose is to highlight the criminal justice and forensics programs at Waynesburg University to interested high school students with the expectation that some will enroll at Waynesburg,” said John McIlwain, instructor of criminal justice. The high school students consist of sophomores, juniors and seniors. “First and foremost, our expectation is that students interested in forensic science and criminal jusSee STUDENTS on A2 Photo by Kaitlin Edwards
Costumed caper
Importance of undergraduate research stressed at Washington, D.C. conference
Seminar, job fair prepare students for graduation
By Eric Bost
By Alex Hinton
Members of the men’s cross country team dressed up in costumes for their practice to celebrate Halloween on Tuesday afternoon. The women’s cross country team also participated in the costumed practice.
Staff Writer A group of students and a professor traveled to Washington, D.C. last weekend for a conference. “It’s a conference about undergraduate research and how that should be part of the curriculum and part of student’s experience and also how to encourage and celebrate more research,” said Assistant Professor of History Dr. Elesha Coffman. Coffman also presented a poster at the conference. “[My poster] was on my public history class; it’s a different kind of his-
tory class. There’s a lot of original research then it’s presented back out into the public,” she said. Most students that attended the conference were in Coffman’s class. “When I was presenting the poster and people were asking me ‘What is public history?’ or ‘How does it help what you’re trying to do on campus?’ they were there to help talk about that,” she said. Senior sociology major Andrea Tomer said the event opened her eyes. “Going to this conference I saw people that were younger than me who were presenting
research projects, and it made me realize even as an undergraduate student you can contribute so much to the academic community,” said Tomer. “I really feel like here at Waynesburg there needs to be an emphasis on that as soon as we enter the school as freshmen.” Tomer continued to talk about how other schools introduce undergraduate research early on in their college careers. “There are some schools that the other professors were talking about where students come into the school as freshmen,” Tomer said. She says it
would help freshman students at Waynesburg to be exposed to research. “Personally, I have tutored so many underclassmen, especially freshmen, who have no idea how to do a research paper, citations,” said Tomer. “I don’t only feel that undergraduate research is important in terms of learning how to write a decent paper, but I also feel it’s important to learn as a freshman so whenever you are considering to go on to graduate school, you have those four years that you have been greatly involved in doing a research paper.”
Staff Writer Career opportunities are available for Waynesburg University students who attend the West PACS Job Internship Fair and the Creative Careers Day. The Creative Careers Day will be held on the second floor of the University center at Carnegie Mellon University this Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The fee will be $10 for all who register online after Oct. 22 or pay at the door. Everyone planning to attend should register at the student portal at http://sites.google.com/sit
SPORTS
FEATURE
REGION
The wrestling was recently tabbed as one of D-III’s top 30 teams nationwide. See Page C1
The annual Pumpkin Bowling will take place today in Johnson Commons.
The Artisans Gallery celebrated its first anniversary on Saturday.
INSIDE Copyright © 2010 by Waynesburg University
e/creativecareersseminar/. Students who attend Creative Careers Day will learn about careers in fields including advertising and marketing, design and multimedia, arts management, public relations, film and broadcast media, artists, interactive design, performing arts and writing and publishing. The Creative Careers Seminar is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Arts Employment Partnership, a collaboration of 13 local colleges and universities. Students may choose two 45-minute topical panel
Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A1-A4 Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1, B4 Editorial/Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2, B3
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C1-C4 Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D1-D2 Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D3-D4
See Page D1
See JOB on A2
See Page B1
YELLOW JACKET
Page A2
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Campus
Pastor discusses goals of church at Chapel By Andrew Buda Staff Writer “Does Waynesburg University really seek to educate students to make connections between faith, learning and serving as its mission statement claims?” Rev. Tina Lockett asked herself while visiting the school’s website. She was glad to resolve that the University did indeed back its claim, matching the goals of the early church. When Lockett was still a child sitting in church with her family, she started thinking about what the church should be like. Picking up the Book of Prayer from the pew in front of her, she read that the church was a community of the new covenant. “Henri Nouwen, internationally renowned priest, author and professor, describes it not as an organization, not as an institution but as a way of living,” said Lockett. As Acts 2:42 describes, the church has four main goals. The first goal is to study and apply the apostle’s teachings. This is a broad goal that can be applied to practices such as faith, learning and serving. Fellowship focuses on loving each other selflessly because of God’s great love for us. The breaking of bread deals with sharing. It points out that we will have to give and receive help at different times in life and need to be in a community that is willing to do both. Prayer is the final goal set out for the church in Acts 2:42, consisting of prayer with and for others or private prayer asking God for help or praising Him.
Job fair to be held Nov. 3 Continued from A1 discussions to attend out of the 13 offered. They will have the opportunity to ask questions about the careers and how the panelists got to where they are now. “It’s more networking for students than a job fair,” said Marie Coffman, director of Career Services. She will be a panelist for the advertising and marketing session. There will also be a raffle for stu-
Students help with MCS Continued from A1 tice will get a better representation of what this type of work is like it the real world,” said Michael Cipoletti, assistant professor and program director of forensic sciences. “We hope that they ask the professionals a lot of questions about what it is like to have such a career, and what
Rev. Tina Lockett spoke about the goals of the church as presented in Acts 2:42 during Tuesday’s Chapel.
Photo by Andrew Buda
“We can do His mission,” said Lockett. “The mission God has left for us contains the making of disciples, loving God with our heart, soul and mind and loving our neighbors as ourselves.” Lockett said that when we strive to get closer to God, He asks us a few key questions. “God will ask you if you trust him with your life,” said Lockett. “That trust may mean uprooting yourself, leaving your comfort zone and trying something new.” “Will you entrust yourself to part of His family?”
asked Lockett. “Will you show your true self to a brother or sister in Christ? That doesn’t mean your Christian ready-made self. It means your true self. Your ugly self.” “Finally,” Lockett said, “God will ask you if you will get up and go get involved in someplace in the world on His behalf.” Lockett explained that there are different images that can represent the church. “America has made the church a museum. We put the good and pretty Christians in the spotlight,” said Lockett. “What we
need in the church community are failures. Real people who have failed and know they need a community.” There are different aspects of church and different ways to view them. “Church can be a place to worship. A place to praise the Lord,” said freshman psychology major Sarah Tetil. “Church isn’t just a place,” said freshmen middle school education major Liz Hollis. “It is a community of people.” Lockett described one perspective of the church,
which was shared with her by one of her former students. “The church needs to be a hospital not a museum.” Lockett agreed and concluded with a call to be joyful. “The apostles lives were marked with joy. Not because they didn’t have problem, not because they weren’t persecuted, not because there wasn’t hardship but because the grace of God overpowered all these things,” said Lockett. “It takes courage to be joyful.”
dents to win a one-on-one session for a 30-minute informational interview with potential employers. “Creative Careers is a fairly new event that we’ve gotten involved with. It’s our second year,” said Coffman. “For WestPACS, it’s been years and years.” The job fair will take place at the Monroeville Convention Center Nov. 3 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The deadline for the $5 reduced fee is Nov. 1. After that, the fee will be $10. There are 105 employers from western Pennsylvania participating in the job fair. Go to westpacs.org to
find a list of the participating employers and to register. Students from 29 schools in the area will be attending the job fair. “Usually close to 1,000 students attend,” said Coffman. There will be a van reserved for transportation for Waynesburg University students who sign up at the Career Services Office. WestPACS
Job Fair candidates must bring a résumé and wear professional attire. Students will meet with employers and give them their résumés. Some of the employers may show potential interest hiring the students and will tell them to fill out additional information online. “They remember stu-
dents they met and might write down their names and look for their information online,” said Coffman. The WestPACS Job Fair is a good opportunity for Waynesburg University seniors who are interested in beginning jobs shortly after graduation, she said. “Students need to go to meet the employers,” said Coffman. “To meet that many in one day is important. These are great opportunities for [the students] to meet with recruiters and professionals and find out if the industry is growing or shrinking and what’s out there for them.”
kind of commitment in education and training is required to achieve expert status.” According to Cipoletti, because high school students are still trying to decide their future, the Mock Crime Scene provides the University with an opportunity to showcase the facilities and campus. “We want our attendees to understand that it is not like it seems on TV and in the movies,” said Cipoletti. “Prospective students need to under-
stand the level of attention to detail and education required to achieve careers in these fields.” Although created for high school students, the Mock Crime Scene also involves University students. “We think our students get an opportunity to reinforce what they have learned in our programs by participating and helping to teach younger students at the Mock Crime Scene,” said Cipoletti. “Our students always seem to get excit-
ed about helping with these types of events.” Cipoletti credits the Mock Crime Scene’s success to the undergraduate students’ tremendous efforts. This year, there are 30 forensic science and criminal justice majors participating in various roles. The themes, categories of instruction and types of evidence presented to the attendees for the Mock Crime Scene are chosen by the forensic science and
criminal justice instructors, according to Cipoletti. “This year, we will be incorporating the Laser Shot firearms training simulator,” said McIlwain. Along with the simulator, sessions will include handcuffing techniques, written documentation and photography of evidence, crime scene sketching and evidence handling. According to McIlwain, the department varies the content of the
“These are great opportunities for [the students] to meet with recruiters and professionals...” Marie Coffman Director of Career Services
CONCUSSIONS
Bill to curb head injuries By Sierra Shafer Op/Ed Editor Following in the footsteps of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Pennsylvania House passed the Safety in Youth Sports Act to prevent high school athletes from suffering sustained head trauma. Rick Shepas, head football coach and athletic director of Waynesburg University, sees this new law as a logical extension of regulations already in place among collegiate and professional athletes. The bill requires that if any high school or junior high athlete suffers a concussion or brain injury, he will not be able to return to the sport until being cleared by a medical profession who specializes in concussions. “We’ve been doing that here for at least five years,” Shepas said. “But [the new bill] increases awareness and lets players know that this isn’t a big deal. It’s ok, just tell us what’s going on.” The state of Washington was the first to pass this bill after a 13year-old athlete returned to competition too soon and was in a coma for several months. Keeping players from being reinjured or suffering long term effects of a head trauma is why Shepas says he recruits so many football players. “When we have injuries, we’re not forced into the stresses of having to get that player back,” he said. “As coaches, we can readjust and get someone else in there.” According to the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study sponsored by the AmerSee CONCUSSIONS on A3
workshops and scenes each year. For this Mock Crime Scene, the workshops will be in the Center for Research and Development, and the crime scenes will be located in Buhl Hall. “The major learning objectives are, of course, the material taught in the workshops,” said McIlwain. “We also want them to understand that what they see on TV is not the real world of crime scene processing.”
YELLOW JACKET
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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Campus
Study reports higher rates of depression in nurses By Amanda Wishner Staff Writer Recent studies are reporting a higher percentage of depression and suicide attempts in medical and nursing students. “We’re a rigorous program,” said Dr. Terri Small, professor of Nursing. “In two and a half years, we cover what med school does in four.” According to a study published in Academic Medicine, the average depression rate among the 2,000 medical students surveyed stands at an estimated 21.2 percent, doubling the 10 percent depression rate among the general population. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 5.7 percent of the surveyed stu-
dents. The study also states that women are more susceptible to depression, citing a 21.6 percent depression rate as compared to a 15.6 percent rate found in male students. Depression rates also vary by year, producing higher numbers during students’ second and third semesters of study. Sophomore medical students experienced a depression rate of nearly 25 percent and juniors reported a rate of 14.6 percent. “Part of it stems from the work load,” said Small. “It can be overwhelming, but it is partially due to what they see in the hospital and clinical settings, dealing with death and dying and sicknesses they are not able to fix.”
“We take on everybody else’s problems.... We want to save everybody, but we can’t cure them all.” Terri Small Professor of Nursing
A recent study by the American Nurses Association reports that 30 percent of nurses feel powerless in their ability to improve the safety and care of patients. According to Small, some nursing and medical students may fail to recognize the symptoms of depression within themselves because of their instinct to care for others. “We take on everybody else’s problems,” said Small. “We lose patients. We want to
save everybody, but we can’t cure them all.” Medical and nursing students are also more aware of the stigma associated with depression and therefore are more hesitant to acknowledge symptoms, reported Academic Medicine. Some students assume that instructors and fellow students will view them as unable to efficiently handle the stress and responsibilities that accompany the medical and nursing fields.
Others may feel as though depression will endanger their careers as well as their patients, according to the study. Depression is a common problem among many college students of all majors. While sometimes attributed to heredity, circumstances that may affect mental wellbeing and increase risks of depression include trauma, loss, diet, social isolation and substance abuse. “A common thread among these is that the person feels out of control,” said Mary Hamilla, assistant director of counseling. “A college student may feel depressed because of overwhelming demands and obligations, lack of sleep, homesickness, difficulty making friends and
many other situations that can feel beyond his or her control.” Symptoms of depression include irritability, change in appetite, weight loss or gain, loss of energy, sleep problems and feelings of despair or hopelessness. A person with severe depression is recognized as having five or more of these symptoms for a period of two weeks or longer. “Depression is treatable,” said Hamilla. “Contact a counselor. Some students just need a few sessions to learn some new coping skills and ways of thinking. Others may need to work with a doctor as well as a counselor for medication. Counseling is free to students and confidential; it really helps.”
STUDENT SENATE
Rollover meal plan discussion tabled for next meeting By Gregory Reinhart Staff Writer
Photo by Gregory Reinhart
Payday Waynesburg University students test their luck at the slot machines on Friday as part of Monte Carlo Night in Alumni Hall. Students played various table and slot games as they vied to earn prizes.
Concussions focus of bill Continued from A2 ican Academy of Neurology reported that 68,000 concussions occurred during the 2008 high school football season. The same study reported that 16 percent of the players who lost consciousness returned to the game the same day. Shepas praised the University’s athletic training program for their work with both collegiate and high school athletes, saying their presence and expertise keeps players safe. The new bill is designed to do the
same because of the severity and durations of injuries that can be sustained from head trauma. The long term affects of concussion and sports-induced head trauma are serious. This time last year NFL spokesman Greg Aiello publically acknowledged the dangers and long term consequences of these injuries. This was the first noted admission of this issue by the NFL, though the risks were not new. “Head injuries are serious,” said Mary Sallach, a sophomore athletic training major, “especially once you have one, you are more susceptible to get another and another.”
Sallach is working with the football team at Chartiers-Houston school district this semester. Sallach said that she and other athletic trainers have always been watchful of head injuries, that that the new bill has increased their level of awareness. “We were always cautious,” she said, “but now it’s even more so. “Things haven’t changed much but now we have coaches who get mad at us because their players have to sit out.” According to Sallach, if a player shows signs of a concussion, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, blurry vision or sensitivity to light and sound, the
player is required to sit out from practice and competition for one week after he no longer has symptoms. Some coaches are upset by the loss of their hard-hitting players for periods which can last from one to two weeks in most cases. For Shepas, the safety and health of the player is more important than the pace at which they return to the game. “It’s not worth it to me,” he said of the risk of players competing too soon after injury. I make a promise to these parents when they bring their kids here that they are leaving them in a good, safe environment. That promise makes it easy for me.”
Members of the Executive Board of Student Senate announced Tuesday they were still considering both proposals that were discussed at the previous meeting. Last week, Waynesburg student Jackalyn Delach proposed Waynesburg switch to a rollover meal plan for students with 14 or less meals per week. “We are going to take it under review,” said Michael Quinn, Student Senate president. “We will talk about it in our pre-meeting. “We will meet with Jackalyn next week and see where she wants to go with this; I want to give her some suggestions with this.” Delach was not present at Tuesday’s meeting when the topic was discussed. “She’s [Delach] the only name with the proposal,” said Brian Wehrle, executive vice president. “I believe Student Senate as a whole is taking this into consideration.” The second tabled proposal involved the PreLaw Society, whose members wanted to show the movie “Legally Blonde” on Nov. 2 in Johnson Commons. The cost for the event was estimated at $400. The money would pay for the rights to show the movie in Waynesburg University and provide refreshments, such as popcorn, hot chocolate and other hot beverages. Concerned about the group’s lack of fundraising and advertising for the event, the Executive Board asked for more details from the organization’s representative and would make a decision at
the next meeting. In other news, Jennifer Brusstar, Student Senate social vice president, announced that all organizations must clear an event with Pat Bristor, associate dean of Students, when organizing campus-wide activities. “You need to clear it with her [Bristor] so that there are no scheduling conflicts,” said Brusstar. Brusstar made the announcement because in the past couple weeks, there have been organizational activities on campus that had not been approved, she said. For example, the PreLaw Society’s movie showing would conflict with the fall play, Brusstar said. She also reminded students that they could advertise with fliers for their events on campus once Bristor approved them. Also, senator captain Caitlyn Bolon also stood in front of the floor to talk about Relay for Life. “We had set a goal to raise $1,000 this year, and we are going to try to raise more than that,” she said. Bolon announced the campus-wide event will take place on April 17 in Johnson Commons from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Senate is also responsible for learning about their assigned cancer and providing information during the Relay. Executive Board members want senators to emphasize the fundraising efforts this early in the school year because of the approaching holiday season. “Every dollar or penny helps out our team,” said Quinn, who believes that people and businesses will be more willing to give during the holiday season.
YELLOW JACKET
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Campus
University community concerned with students’ recovery By Jon Ledyard Assignments Editor Amid the continuing questions of what happened Sunday morning and the ongoing police investigation, Waynesburg University community remains concerned primarily with the health of both Zachary and Tyler Fatigante, two Waynesburg football players. According to Richard “Skip” Noftzger, senior vice president of Institutional Planning, Research and Education Services, the recovery of both students should continue to be the focus of the Uni-
versity. “We are concerned about the health of the students and are hoping both get better,” said Noftzger. “I have seen both recently and both are making progress.” Zachary Fatigante was the starting tight end for the football team, while Tyler played special teams and quarterback. Director of Athletics and head football coach Rick Shepas said he does not want the details of this incident to become a distraction to his athletes. “My thoughts are real simple on the matter,” said Shepas. “It’s a terribly
unfortunate situation that could have been avoided, but for now I really want my guys to focus on academics and the final three games and not talk to the media.” Shepas said he is uncertain of the timetable of either player’s recovery, but the brothers’ progress has provided an emotional lift for some of his teammates. “Zach is recovering nicely and our thoughts and prayers are with him,” said Shepas. “Tyler has a concussion but was released from the hospital and even came down for the last part of practice on
Tuesday. I’m not sure how long he will be out for, but I think him being down at practice put some closure on the situation for these guys.” Mike Fatigante, the older brother of Zach and Tyler and an assistant men’s basketball coach at Waynesburg, said that his brothers are recovering. “Tyler was released Monday night and as of Tuesday night Zach is out of ICU, but still being monitored,” said Mike. “Zach has facial and head injuries, and Tyler has a nice mark on the back and front of his head, but we are hoping both make a
full recovery.” According to Mike, Tyler’s memory of the night and even the day is very limited. “He has significant memory loss,” said Mike. “When I first talked to him he didn’t remember the football game earlier or anything else before the game. Slowly some of it has come back to him, but he still has no memory of the incident.” Shepas said he is unconcerned with details of the investigation, trusting police to handle those aspects of the incident. “I’m focused on Zach and Tyler and their recov-
Police investigate Continued from A1 McWreath said the student attempted to assault him at the party. “I touched his hat and asked if he was a Phillies fan,” he said. “He swung at me and I pushed him away. He pushed me back and then people separated us and put him in another room.” After an altercation with McWreath, the student was forcibly removed from the house by several Waynesburg students at approximately 1 a.m., according to Bolon. According to McWreath, a Waynesburg student allegedly assaulted the Bethany student after he left, but police cannot confirm this assault. “[The Bethany student] wasn’t seriously injured, he was just embarrassed,” said McWreath. According to Bolon, the Bethany student allegedly returned to the house several hours later with two carloads of Bethany College students who had been in Morgantown. When they arrived, Tyler Fatigante was outside the building, and started arguing with the
Infographic by Michelle Naymick and Rachel Brown
Bethany College students. The situation escalated when former Waynesburg student Destiny Ambrose attempted to stop the argument, Bolon said. Ambrose was punched near her left eye, and a resulting fight broke out between the students. During the fight, Tyler Fatigante was hit in the back of the head and was knocked unconscious, according to Ambrose. “I didn’t even know what had happened,” Ambrose said. “There was no response from Tyler, and I instantly knew I had
to call 911.” Bolon and other eyewitnesses claim Fatigante was struck by a weapon, possibly a crowbar. According to police, it is unclear whether he was hit with a weapon. After Tyler Fatigante was knocked unconscious, the Bethany students imme-
diately returned to their vehicles and began to drive away, Bolon said. Police and witnesses are still unclear as to what happened next, but within a few minutes of the initial encounter and approximately a block away from the party, near the Student Health Ser-
vices building, Zachary Fatigante was found lying unconscious on the sidewalk surrounded by Bethany students. As Waynesburg students approached, the Bethany students left in their vehicles, leaving Zachary Fatigante behind. “I looked down and
ery,” said Shepas. “But I do think there are some valuable lessons we can learn from this incident and about how we need to think longer and harder about our actions.” Noftzger agreed with Shepas that students should be aware of the learning opportunities that present themselves in these types of tragic situations. “The alleged assailants were not Waynesburg University students,” said Noftzger. “But we do expect our students to uphold an attitude of integrity on and off the field.”
just saw him and was in shock — so much blood,” said Ambrose. “Everyone scattered — frantic, in tears and terrified.” Police arrived at the corner of 1st Ave. and Morris St. at 3:21 a.m., and emergency personnel transported both Tyler and Zachary Fatigante to Ruby Memorial Hospital. Skip Noftzger, senior vice president of Institutional Planning, Research and Development, declined to comment on details of the investigation. “We are cooperating with police on the investigation,” said Noftzger. “Our security office has been involved with police and students have been cooperating through the interview process.” As of press time, no changes have been filed in the incident and the investigation is ongoing. Officials from Bethany College did not respond to requests for comment. Other media reports indicate officials there are aware of the situation.
Guest columnist Lisa Jaeger shares her thoughts as her study abroad semester in Los Angeles nears its end. Read more on B2
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Spooktacular businesses to haunt downtown Waynesburg Saturday By Kyle Edwards Editorial Assistant Waynesburg Borough business owners and local chamber of commerce members are invited to dress up in their spookiest garb for this year’s Halloween Spooktacular. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 30, and the judging will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. “This will be our 3rd annual Halloween Spooktacular,” said Athena Bowman, administrative assistant for the Waynesburg Borough. “This year we’re doing things a little differently.” According to Bowman, the difference this year will concern the judging. “We’re going to have the judges come into the business and judge the costumes,” said Bowman. “Then at noon we are having the participants come out on to the courthouse lawn to be judged in the categories.” Bowman explained that a parade of all the participants will also be held at noon on the courthouse
Thrilling
lawn. Immediately after the parade, the winners will be selected for each category. “Each participant will receive a treat bag filled with goodies donated by First Federal Savings & Loan,” said Bowman. “Winners from the categories of scariest, prettiest, funniest and most original will receive $50 cash prizes donated by Community Bank, Direct Result/Greene Saver, Mark IV Office supply and Laick Design. The winner of the best overall costume will receive a $100 cash prize donated by Eye Candy Salon and a custom-carved pumpkin by Shane Gottschalk.” She also said that a small gift will be given to the second and third place winners in each category. Participants must be either a business owner within the borough or a member of the chamber of commerce, according to Bowman. “You must be employed within the borough or be a chamber of commerce member in order to particiSee HAUNTED on B4
performance
Photo by Marissa Barr
More than 50 people gathered Saturday for the first anniversary celebration of the Artisans Gallery.
Artisans Gallery celebrates its first anniversary By Rachel Brown Executive Editor
Photo by Gregory Reinhart
Thriller reawakening On Saturday, Oct. 23, In Motion Dance + Fitness organized Thrill the World, in downtown Waynesburg. Thrill the World, is a worldwide simultaneous dance in tribute to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Sun catchers swung rhythmically in the shop windows, the brightly colored glass reflecting the sun’s rays onto the handcrafted oak tabletop as in an ever-shifting kaleidoscope. Sounds from a softly strummed guitar floated through the fall breeze as visitors enjoyed locally produced cheeses, wines and other treats outside. Colorful cupcakes, salads and chocolate covered strawberries lined the tables inside as artisans and visitors mingled, admiring the paintings and photographs that lined the walls of the Artisan Gallery in downtown Waynesburg. More than 50 people gathered Saturday for the first anniversary celebration of the gallery, which is sponsored by Creative Industries of Greene County. For three hours that
“The art community is a fairly close-knit group of people. Everyone is acquainted with everyone else.” Jeffery Moyer Local artist
day, the shop opened its doors to curious passersby and provided them a chance to meet with some of the almost 60 artisans who display their work in the gallery. Jeffery Moyer, of West Greene, was on hand to talk about his fused glass creations, which dangled in the windows. “There was a desire among the community to have a local spot to display our art,” he said See ARTISTS on B4
Couple turns love of horror into film production career Amy Lynn Best and husband Mike Watt have produced horror films for 13 years By Natalie Bruzda Region Editor Pumpkins, haunted houses and hayrides are synonymous with one very pervasive holiday during the autumn season. Halloween. But another staple of Halloween is more than just a seasonal treat for one local couple. Serving as both a livelihood and a passion, one local couple has turned their love of horror into a career. For the past 13 years Amy Lynn Best, along with her husband, Mike Watt, have been producing horror films. “I don’t really know where my love of horror came from, but I do know that I have been watching horror films for most of my life,” Best said. To date, their company, Happy Cloud Pictures, has produced five feature length films, a couple of
“I think a lot of people like being scared by horror films because it’s a safe way to be scared...turn the movie off and you’re ok.” Amy Lynn Best Happy Cloud Pictures
shorts and a number of documentaries. Although the production of these films may seem like a job in itself, both Best and Watt hold occupations that are separate from their horror film career. “It’s more than a hobby, but if you would have asked me a couple of years ago where I would have wanted to see where our future headed, I would have said toward a full-time career in horror film production,” Watt said. “But because of the economy, it is not viable as a full-time career.” Although Best is a manager at Strykers and Watt works as a technical adviser for an engineer-
ing firm, the couple finds time to fulfill their passion in horror film production. “We are concerned with making enough money from each film in order to produce another one and make something that we’re proud of,” Watt said. The couple is currently in the process of producing a feature length film titled, “Razor Days.” Photography on the film begins next month. Best began acting in films after meeting Watt while he attended Pittsburgh Filmmakers. According to Watt, who is in love with all movie types, the couple initially became involved in horror film production because it was easier to sell. “I don’t think you can name a type of movie that I don’t like,” Watt said. Once they knew that they would pursue the horror avenue, they also diverted off the path that many other horror film producers were following at the time. “When we first started, a lot of people were doing Quentin Tarantino type films,” Watt said. See COUPLE on B4
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Editorial
Rumor mill Rumors about attack cannot be trusted Sunday afternoon, rumors swirled around the Waynesburg campus about an off-campus fight early that morning that allegedly involved students from Bethany College and Waynesburg University. The fight stemmed from an off-campus party, according to Waynesburg Borough Police, and sent two Waynesburg football players to the hospital, including one with life-threatening injuries. Depending on the source, one student was stabbed with a knife. Or was it a screwdriver? Others said he was hit in the head with a crowbar. Some claimed eight students from another school jumped a different student who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Wait. Or was it three carloads? And was the student actually involved in the situation? For now, no one knows many details as police are still investigating the altercation. But there are two facts on which everyone agrees. One, this entire situation was awful. From the first sign of heated tempers to the final punch, this entire situation could—and should— have been avoided. Members of the football team have been visiting Ruby Memorial Hospital as the two students recover, showing team unity and strength in tragic times. The campus’ thoughts and prayers are with the two students as they recover. And, two, no matter what, remember rumors cannot be trusted. Do not label Bethany College as a violent and out-of-control school for one, isolated incident that only involves a small number of students. Do not jump to conclusions based on rumors.
Don’t miss job fairs Take advantage of chances to network As October ends and November begins, Waynesburg students will have several opportunities to learn about selected careers and network with professionals. On Oct. 29, students have the opportunity to attend Creative Careers Day, which caters toward careers such as advertising, design and public relations. Three days later, students can attend the WestPACS Job Pair in Monroeville. Representatives from multiple companies will be present to discuss openings at the companies. Once again, the registration fee is $10 at the door or $5 before Nov. 1. Students should not hesitate to take advantage of these opportunities. For only $10, students have the chance to network with professionals. For just $10, students are granted access to a plethora of information that could help them with their future careers. A job fair is a great opportunity to meet employers. Where else can students find so many employers in one location or be seen by them? Sure, attending a job fair doesn’t guarantee that a job opportunity will open up, but it gives students a chance to make contacts that may benefit them in the future. Job fairs have so much to offer. It’s a free ride to one-stop shopping. Don’t waste the opportunity.
You might be too busy to read this I don’t have time to write this column. You, as busy as you are, probably don’t have time to read this. I also don’t have time to write the four-page paper due this week, practice for my internship presentation, write the 10-page report due next Thursday or study for the Chemistry class that is way over my head. I know what you’re thinking; you’re just as busy. Actually, you’re probably busier. You have way more work to do and just no time to do it. We all throw around the phrase “I don’t have
SIERRA SHAFER Columnist
time.” I probably say it ten times every day. Yet while writing this, I have checked my facebook twice. I have also color-coded my closet this week and sorted my iTunes library. I watched at least two hours of skiing videos on YouTube and checked the snow report back home in Colorado five times today. Like I said, I just don’t have time. I’m only sleeping a
Determine what is right and ethical Last week, in my senior level Communication capstone course, our instructor brought a topic of discussion to the table. It is a topic that everyone should be concerned with. Students majoring in business. Students majoring in chemistry. Professors. Parents. Anyone, you name it. And yes of course, students majoring in the study of Communication. What was the topic at hand?
few hours every night because I’m so busy. For the past few weeks I have been on the verge on a breakdown because I am overwhelmed by the ever-growing to-do list that is filling up the 19 sticky notes on my desk. I am nearly convinced I won’t be able to get it all done. There is just too much work to do and not enough time. I just checked my facebook again. Naturally, I need to click through the most recent photo albums of a girl I went to high school with and haven’t talked to in five or six years.
NATALIE BRUZDA Columnist
Ethics. We reviewed different organizations and their codes of ethics, one of which was the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Throughout my four years as a Communication student, the importance of ethics has always been made very clear. Last week’s class discussion was no different. Each code we reviewed included much of the same guidelines. According to the Society of
Twenty minutes later, I’m back to work. It sure would be nice to have some free time, but I just have so much to do. Like I said, 10-page report, four-page paper, Power Point slideshow, Chemistry exam. Anyone down for a Wal-Mart run? I really need shampoo. Now. Even though I won’t have time to take a shower until tomorrow because I’m so busy. I know, I know, I’m not as busy as you. My mom has called me three times today. I haven’t called her back See FIND on B3
Professional Journalists, each journalist should: seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable. The discussion of ethics also came at a perfect time in accordance with a news headline. Last Thursday, the same day my class discussed various codes of ethics, NPR ended its contract with Juan Williams. NPR news terminated the contract of Williams, a longtime news analyst, following remarks he made on the Fox News Channel about Muslims. According to NPR, Williams appeared last Monday on The O’Reilly Factor, and host Bill O’Reilly asked him to comment See NEED on B3
Solitude among ten million Californians I went outside this morning to enjoy some of the sunshine that is so typical of Southern California. (The sun that has been so dearly missed by many as it has been raining on and off for the past couple weeks.) I never thought I would miss the sun in Los Angeles. More than just getting out in the sun, I wanted to get away for a little while. I have had the
LISA JAEGER Guest Columnist
urge to play loud music and dance around with my arms in the air. Or to lift my face to the sun and spin around with my arms wide open. I am too self-conscious to do this where people can see me. That currently elim-
inates... everywhere. Finding time to be by yourself is hard in a city of nearly ten million people. Don’t get me wrong; I love the four girls I’m living with. But because we are taking the same classes, our schedules are all the same, so someone is always in the apartment. Just like I never thought I would miss the sun in LA, I never thought I would miss
time alone. I am mostly an extrovert and too much time alone has always made me depressed. I got my energy from spending time with my friends. Even if I spent the majority of my day with other people, I have always been able to get away when needed. Whether it was in my dorm room when my See TIME on B3
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Page B3
Op-Ed
Find time for priorities Continued from B2 yet. She just doesn’t understand how busy I am. Just beat my high score on Bejeweled Blitz. Victory. I wish I had time to read more books. I have a stack next to my bed, but I just don’t have the time. Someday .Maybe I subconsciously like the drama of waiting until the last minute to finish my work. Maybe over committing myself and rushing to meet deadlines is my way of making myself feel just slightly more important that I really am. Maybe I am making excuses. I have 24 hours science and by 20-to-1 or at my disposal everyday. more in many fields, And when I use them up, such as sociology and I get 24 brand new ones. anthropology. Studies of professors’ party affiliations and self-reported political views show that, on average, liberal professors outnumber conservatives and libertarians by about 8-to-1, with the Continued from B2 imbalance being much greater at elite institu- roommate was away, an tions. empty lounge, an abanSo what is the solu- doned corner of the tion? For the same rea- library or one of the sons colleges and univer- parks around campus, I sities are sensitive to have found a time and race, ethnicity, gender place to refresh my soul. and sexual orientation, Here, I am sitting in they should include and the Burnside Circle, a respect a range of politi- mini-park in the center cal ideas. Schools should of a roundabout. The include conservatives Burnside Circle is a cenand libertarians in facul- tral point for many of the ty hiring and admis- apartment buildings. It sions. has a fountain, a coffee If, instead, diversity is shop, and putting greens. defined to include every While the sunshine, the kind of differentness fountain and the birdsexcept different political of-paradise (brilliant ideas, then our universi- orange, pink, and purple ties will never be truly flowers) aide in my soul’s diverse in the way that restoration, I am not matters most for learn- alone. Cars are continuing and the development ously driving around the of innovative solutions circle. Other people from to our nation’s problems. the apartments are taking walks through the
Intellectual diversity lacking on campus Last month, 18 million college students returned to school _ to those hotbeds of debate about the crucial issues of the day, right? But not so fast. A major new study on the campus climate for viewpoint diversity _ surveying 24,000 U.S. students and published by the American Association of University Professors _ found otherwise. Only a third of college students felt that their professors made learning about different views a priority. In fact, most did not think it entirely safe to hold unpopular opinions on campus. This lack of intellectual diversity at our nation’s colleges and universities should be a concern to all of us. It means that our future leaders in industry, government and science are receiving a one-sided that leaves them illequipped. It also limits the phenomena studied, questions asked and solutions proposed by
professors who, as the main producers of research and development in this country, fuel our innovative edge. Why are our colleges and universities such unimaginative places? Rather than being a marketplace of political ideas, intellectual diversity is what schools value least. Instead, it is only diversity of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. This agenda dominates higher education in faculty hiring, student admissions, curricula, student life programs and virtually every other aspect of college life. Universities assume that (1) demographic diversity has educational benefits, and (2) that we must give preference to race, ethnicity and gender because they are central to students’ worldview and self-identity. Yet, whether demographic diversity enhances learning is still debated among social scientists. Intellectual diversity clearly does so, however. Studies show
that students respond better to multiple ideological perspectives, which, improves understanding and decisionmaking quality, and facilitates moral development. Our sociopolitical values are fundamental to who we are as individuals. A 2009 study by professors Matthew Woessner and April KellyWoessner found that conservative students lack academic role models, have more distant relationships with their professors and have fewer opportunities to do research with professors (particularly on sociopolitical issues). Such factors may partly explain why there are so few conservative professors. Conservatives and libertarians are becoming increasingly rare in academia, outnumbered by liberals by 3-to-1 even in fields known to be relatively conservative, such as economics, by more than 5-to-1 in moderate fields such as political
Time alone hard to find
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, On behalf of the Waynesburg University varsity women’s soccer team, we would like to thank the University campus and community and all those who participated in the Second Annual Kick Pancreatic Cancer fundraiser soccer game to make this year’s event a success. Committed to continuing the mission to fight against the fatal cancer, we are proud to do our part. All proceeds from the day benefitted the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. We cannot thank the entire campus, communi-
Need for clear ethics Continued from B2 on the idea that the U.S. is facing a dilemma with Muslims. Williams replied: “Look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as
Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.” NPR then issued a statement last Wednesday night saying: “His remarks on The O’Reilly Factor this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.” However, the firing of Williams also brings up an issue within the field of journalism. According to an article in the Christian Science Monitor, journalists like Williams are laboring under increasing demands to
ty and soccer teams enough for raising more than $2,000. The event would not have been possible without the support of soccer head coach Sean McCarthy, Colleges Against Cancer, Athletic Training Student Association and Sports Information Director Bobby Fox. We would like to extend a special thank you to The Yellow Jacket for their coverage and Assistant Sports Editor Aaron Thompson who captured the spirit of Kick Pancreatic Cancer again this year. Sincerely, Sarah Spicuzza and the 2010 Women’s Soccer Team
share their personality and opinion while at the same time abiding by traditional ethics rules. Williams has joined a growing list of journalists fired for making bold statements on the air or online. Media experts say that reporters are receiving puzzling messages. They are laboring under increasing demands to share their personality and opinion while at the same time abiding by ethics rules. According to the article, those rules don’t always jibe with the “insta-opinion” atmosphere of new media
like Twitter and Facebook. Furthermore, this case reinforces the need for institutions like NPR to instill the elements of journalism and to be clear what the standards are for blogs and TV appearances. The firing of Williams is indicative of just how important it is to uphold the ethics of an organization no matter what the organization is. This is why it’s important to become familiar with whatever your organization or field of study holds to be right and ethical.
It’s like having money to burn. Sadly, I am burning a lot of it, rather than investing it. I do have a lot of my plate. Most of us do. But if I’m honest with myself, it’s clear that I am making a lot of excuses and loosely use the words “I don’t have time.” The things that are truly important to me, I make time for. The things that matter to me get done – whether intentionally or otherwise. I might say that something is important to me and when it doesn’t get done blame it on my busy schedule. But at the end of the day, the things that I have checked off my list are a true reflection of my priorities. It says a lot and is a good reminder to keep on eye on where my time is really going and what I am focused on.
circle, enjoying the sunshine as I am. I have also just been joined by a half dozen apartment complex employees on lunch break. I certainly understand why they chose this spot. Just sitting here writing this column, I have found some restoration. Even though I did not dance or throw my arms in air, I found a chance to refresh in what I did have. I guess that is what coming to a new place means. Not only does one have to make new friends and find new places to eat and shop, but one has to learn how to survive the day to day. I am finding new ways to appreciate the little things in life. Even simply getting away has a different meaning here. Even though it’s different, I’m loving it. I would not trade my birds-ofparadise for anything right now.
Regional Political Updates Do not forget to vote. Greene County’s general elections happen Tuesday, Nov. 2. Offices on the Nov. 2 general election ballot for Waynesburg include: * U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania * Governor/Lieutenant Governor * U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District * State Senator for the 46th District * State Representative for the 50th District For anyone who wishes to practice using the voting machine, there is a sample ES&S iVotronic voting machine in the elections office through Nov. 2. For more information about the elections, call 724-852-5230. -By Stephanie Laing
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Region
Airport opens for Mon View Roller Rink to celebrate Flashlight Drags ‘Halloween Skate’ tomorrow evening this weekend By Mitch Graham Staff Writer Racing on public streets is illegal, and if caught, offenders can be penalized with jail time. But this weekend, drivers will be given an opportunity to bend the rules. This Saturday, Oct. 30, the Greene County Airport will be open for racing by an organization called Flashlight Drags. There will be a car show, car cruise, music, food and a vendors’ midway. According to the Flashlight Drags website, the concept for this event evolved from an idea to “provide a venue where a hot-rodder or tuner could burn tire and race a buddy, without risking jail time or jeopardizing safety.” Furthermore, according to the website, the goal was to provide the illusion and excitement of street racing with a touch of nostalgic old-school drag racing. Jake Blaker, director of the Greene County Department of Recreation, is optimistic about the event. “This will be the third year the event has come to Greene County,” said Blaker. “In the past few years, this has been a very successful event with around 1500-2000 spectators and 150-220 cars to race.” The name Flashlight Drags comes from the old days of drag racing. Back then, the race would be signaled by a flashlight signal, unlike today with the highly-accurate computer assisted “Christmas trees” found in professional drag racing. But unlike professional drag racing there will be no classes or brackets this Saturday, meaning Any car can race at any time a simple heads-up format. To race, the cars must be completely street legal. Department of Transportation-approved tires and real mufflers are required; no racing tires will be permitted. To race, you must show current state registration, proof of insurance and a valid driver’s license. Seat belts must be worn, and if a convertible is being raced, the top must be up or a helmet is to be worn. “The weather controls the total,” said Blaker. “A nice Saturday will draw the crowds well.” Flashlight Drags will also feature a costume contest for cars, racers and spectators in spirit of Halloween. The gates open at noon on Saturday, and the races start at 2 pm. It will cost $25 to race and $5 to watch. Racers are encouraged to race as many times as they want. “Some racers have run 20 times in one event,” said Blaker.
Haunted businesses Continued from B1 pate,” said Bowman. “Some of our chamber of commerce members are located in Franklin Township, and we wanted to include them in the event as well instead of just restricting it to the borough.” According to Bowman, Spooktacular was started as a way to promote good business in the borough. “We just thought it would be a good way to promote business between the borough and the chamber of commerce and to encourage interaction between the businesses,” said Bowman. “We wanted to get them [the businesses]
more involved in the downtown area.” Melody Longstreth, executive director of the Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce, agreed. “With the scale of the events that we do, this is a small one,” she said. “This is just a fun way to relax, something to bring the camaraderie of the businesses together and just have fun. We encourage people to come down and participate.” Bowman said that each year a non profit organization holds a bake sale on the steps of the courthouse during the event. “Last year, the youth group from the First Baptist Church in Waynesburg held the bake sale,” she said. “We contacted them again this year, and they were interested in holding it again.”
GREENSBORO, PA – Mon View Roller Rink in Greensboro will transform for one night only into Mon “Boo” Roller Rink for the third annual “Halloween Skate,” scheduled for 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29. Admission for the allages skate is $7 per person.
Sponsored by Greene Waste Services and McDonalds, the skate will feature treats, games such as bobbing for apples, and costume judging and prizes for funniest, ugliest, prettiest, scariest and most original costumes. Last year’s event drew more than 200 attendees.
Mon View Roller Rink will officially open for the 2010-2011 skating season Friday, Nov. 5. Fall/winter skating hours will be 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission to skate is $5 with skate rental, or $4 for skaters who bring their own skates.
General admission for non-skaters is $5. Mon View is available to rent for private parties, and skate lessons are available by appointment. For more information on the “Halloween Skate,” call Mon View Roller Rink at 724-9433440, or the Department of Recreation at 724852-5323.
Couple makes films
had fun with their career. They have met actors who have played roles such as Jason and Leather Face. “We started going to conventions as fans,” Watt said. “I have also become friends with a lot of the people that I grew up admiring. I don’t think that being a fan ever goes away, no matter how much success you
have.” Ask Best and Watt what attracts individuals to horror films, and they give similar answers, but Watt said that it’s a question that a lot of people try to answer. “I like being scared by them,” Best said. “I think a lot of people like being scared by horror films because it’s a safe way to be scared and you don’t have to worry about
the real horror in life. You can just get scared, turn the movie off and then you’re ok.” Watt agrees. “People work out a lot of anxiety through fantasy,” he said. “It’s a way for people to get some relief and a way to be scared in a controlled environment. For more information on Happy Cloud Pictures, visit amylynnbest.net.
Continued from B1 “We always wanted to try and see what other people were doing and then do something different. Because there’s little money to be made we want to have fun with it.” And the couple has
Photo by Marissa Barr
Waynesburg University student Grant Paxton and Irish foreign exchange student Jordan White provide musical entertainment for the first anniversary of the Artisans Gallery.
Artists share their work Continued from B1 about the gallery’s creation. “The art community is a fairly close-knit group of people. Everyone is acquainted with everyone else.” Moyer has found some success by displaying his works in the
gallery, selling several sun catchers. In recent months, however, he has noticed more people stopping by the gallery to visit and look seriously at the pieces, perhaps to purchase them, he said. “Within the last few months, we’ve been able to attract higher quality of artists [to the gallery,]” he said. The gallery includes
handcrafted tables and soaps, alpaca wool shawls and paintings among others. Waynesburg University Lecturer in Art David Lesako also had some pieces on display, including a pastel of a stone barn and one of a rural landscape. Started one year ago, the gallery has sold a number of pieces created by local artists, according to Gallery
Manager Jim Winegar. Several local artists first pitched the idea to Creative Industries of Greene County, which “is focused on building a prosperous economy by helping our creative businesses and people thrive,” according to the website. “[The gallery] is the first significant step [for the organization],” Winegar said.
The cross country teams ready for the PAC Championships on their home course. Read more on C3
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Nothing Wrestling ranked among nation’s elite teams settled quite yet in PAC By Steve Hullings Staff Writer
Dave Floyd Sports Editor
Anyone well versed in Presidents’ Athletic Conference football may have done a slight double take when checking out the results from Saturday’s action. While the winners of most games may not have come as much of a surprise, a few of the scores might have. Now, as the 2010 regular season winds down, there’s plenty of evidence saying that the race at the top of the conference standings is still wide open. Despite the multitude of possibilities concerning the finish in league play, right now, one thing is for certain – Thomas More is the odds on favorite to win their third straight PAC title. Currently, the nationally ranked Saints (No. 10, according to d3football.com) are undefeated in the conference and overall. With Westminster (1-4, 2-5) and nonconference rival Mount St. Joseph as two of their remaining three contests, Thomas More’s Nov. 6 date with Waynesburg appears to be the only potential stumbling block left on their schedule. Because of that matchup, the 3-1 (5-2 overall) Jackets control their own destiny heading down the stretch. Wins in each of their final three games would give Waynesburg the outright PAC championship. Easier said than done. The Jackets have arguably the toughest schedule of the five teams still in the mix atop the league tables. This week they take on upstart Saint Vincent, and the week following the Thomas More clash, they battle rival Washington and Jefferson. It is brutal, but Waynesburg certainly has a shot at navigating that difficult stretch and capturing their second ever outright PAC crown. Saint Vincent, the first team the Jackets must overcome, raised some eyebrows by cruising to a 42-17 victory over Grove City Saturday. Winless in 2009 and with just one win from the time the program returned in ’07 until ’09, the Bearcats have turned things around this year. They already have two
The Waynesburg University Yellow Jacket wrestling team was placed in the top 30 of all Division III teams in the nation for the second consecutive year. The Jackets are ranked 30th by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. “We were happy to get ranked,” said head coach
Ron Headlee. “But a couple guys said to me and [assistant] Coach [John] Yates that hopefully that will be the lowest we will be all year.” There are only three other teams in the state of Pennsylvania that are ranked higher than the Jackets: Delaware Valley College (8), Wilkes University (24) and Elizabethtown College (29). “We want to be a top 20
team,” Headlee said. “But we just want to keep moving up as the season progresses.” Last season, the Jackets were ranked 26th in the preliminary rankings but eventually dropped out of the rankings, due in large part to their dual record. However, they won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship. Three Jackets wrestlers, sophomore
Alex Crown, junior Jesse Byerly and senior Nick Garber, were named in the individual national preseason rankings. The coaches hope and expect this to motivate the team to become better. “When you’re ranked, everyone kind of tries to gun for you,” said Headlee. The Jackets begin this season with the three wrestlers who are tabbed
in the individual rankings but hope to have four guys ranked by the end of the season. According to the coaching staff, this shows the talent they are getting in the room, that they are getting the right guys and that they are getting better each year. Byerly dislocated his shoulder in practice, and See WRESTLING on C2
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Jackets finish sixth in PAC tournament By Dave Rykala Staff Writer
Photo by Tim Jackson
Freshman running back Dom Moore carries the ball in Saturday’s game as sophomores Travis Kuhn (35) and Julian Pintola (78) clear the way.
Football trounces Frostburg Waynesburg scores 35 unanswered in lopsided victory By Aaron Thompson Assistant Sports Editor The Waynesburg University football team had all the reasons to be looking at the upcoming schedule. The Yellow Jackets are just a game back in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, were playing a non-conference opponent in Frostburg State for the first time since 2006 and were coming off a hard fought victory over Westminster. However, the Jackets were determined to just keep taking it one game at a time and routed the Bob-
cats 41-7 at John F. Wiley Stadium this past Saturday. The victory now puts Waynesburg at 5-2 overall, while its conference record stays at 3-1. The Jackets now have PAC matchups remaining against Saint Vincent, Thomas More and Washington & Jefferson. If the Jackets win out, they would win the league title and an outright bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Jackets controlled the contest against the Bobcats (1-6) from the outset. Waynesburg opened up the first possession by moving down the field on a six-play, 64-yard drive that was capped off with a touchdown by junior running back Justin Falcon. Junior Jon Storck’s extra
point was blocked, so the Jackets lead was 6-0. Frostburg quickly answered with a touchdown of its own when quarterback Josh Volpe connected with fullback Derek Sheely. The Bobcats tacked on the extra point to gain their first and only lead of the game. A few minutes later, Waynesburg took control of the contest. Senior Troy Garove fielded a punt by Bobcat punter Chris Karolenko and raced 72 yards the other way for his first collegiate touchdown. After Storck tacked on the extra point, Waynesburg was ahead 13-7 and would never look back. “[Troy] has been pheSee RETURN on C3
One year ago the Waynesburg University women’s tennis team finished in fourth place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets their hopes of finishing higher did not come true as the women finished sixth in the standings this past weekend. “The kids played the best they could, and there was no doubt they did their best,” said head coach Ron Christman. “We had chances to take matches, which was disappointing.” In the doubles portion of the tournament, junior Rebeka Reyes and freshman Markie Gustafson lost their match 8-1, and the junior tandem of Kelsey Diesel and Jess Kody fell victim to the Westminster College duo of Rachel Jack and Becky Tobias. The lone victory of the tournament came from the combination of freshman Logan McDonald and junior Jenny McAndrews. The Jackets fought through a tie-break to prevail 9-8 over Thomas More College’s Maria Pas-
cual and Brittany Knapp to advance to the semifinals. However, for McAnMcAndrews drews and McDonald, they ran into the eventual third doubles champions, Elissa McDonald Beale and Megan Bennett, losing 8-2. “I’m very excited that Logan and I won,” said McAndrews. “I thought we played a great match, and it’s great to beat a team that you previously lost to.” For the Jackets, that would be the only win they would get as they fought hard but came up short. In first singles, Reyes lost to Grove City’s Natalie Walten 6-0, 6-0. Gustafson pushed her second singles match to a tiebreak but dropped it 6-2, 6-7, 10-1. Saint Vincent College’s Amanda Gan defeated Kody 6-1, 6-1 in third singles, and Diesel lost at fourth singles 6-0, 6-3. See JACKETS on C3
Tie sinks women’s soccer team’s postseason hopes By Matt Miller Staff Writer
The Waynesburg women’s soccer team took a two-game win streak into Bethany this past Saturday but came out with a 1-1 tie against the Bison. The tie ended Waynesburg’s hopes of any postseason appearance. The Yellow Jackets started fast as junior forward Courtney Ebersole scored her 12th goal of the season on a rebound to give the team a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. See CONFERENCE on C4 “[We] started off very,
very well,” head coach Sean McCarthy said. “A lot of energy and a lot of opportunities in the first 10 to 15 minutes. Definitely came out of the gate pretty quick.” For the next 60 minutes the Jacket defense held Bethany as it tried to protect its one-goal lead. “With about 15 minutes left in the first half we kind of started defending a little bit more and just holding our line and absorbing a lot of pressure,” McCarthy said. “Into the second half it was much of the same. We were on our back foot
really trying to hold onto that one-goal lead with little counter attacks here and there but nothing really too dangerous.” “We came out and scored a quick goal and really dominated them in the first half,” senior defender Sarah Spicuzza said. “In the second half I think we just gave them a little too much space and had miscommunications, and that’s where they scored.” The Jackets held off the Bison until the 77th minute when Bethany forSee POSTSEASON on C2
Photo by Dave Miller, ADM Photography
Junior goalkeeper Katrina Kelly made 13 saves in the Jackets’ 1-1 tie at Bethany Saturday.
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sports
Women’s basketball shows maturity in first week of practice By Steven Iser Staff Writer The Waynesburg women’s basketball team has already shown signs of maturity one week into practice, which began on Oct. 18. Head coach Sam Jones is pleased with the physical and mental changes he is able to see from his players. “I am able to see a difference in my players’ attitude and focus,” Jones said. “When they walk into the gym, they are
more focused than they were last week.” According to sophomore guard Britney Spencer, the players understand the dedication it takes to be a great team. “We want to be a better team,” Spencer said. “If that means improving our dedication and giving it all we can, then that is what we will do.” Outside of practice, the women’s team feels it is necessary to condition and work on offensive and defensive drills. “When we do extra
work without our coach, it makes us a stronger team,” Spencer said. “It shows we can come together and highlights our captains’ abilities to take on their role.” The Jackets extra conditioning will also play an important role when it is time to compete. “We do a lot of running to get us in the best basketball shape possible,” junior captain Hannah Hunter said. “We do whatever it takes to make sure we are getting better and improving every day.”
The team’s focus on a successful season drives them to work hard day in and day out, whether it be on their own or at practice. “We know we have the potential to be a top team, and we want to make sure no team is in better shape or works harder than us,” sophomore guard Mary Sallach said. “It basically comes down to a battle of who wants it more.” The women’s basketball team has proven how critical this year is to them with their increased
Upset bid falls short against Geneva By Dave Franczak Staff Writer This season has been full of ups and downs for the Waynesburg University men’s soccer team. The team started off strong through non-conference play, eclipsing the team’s win total from a year ago. The Yellow Jackets played just three games at home going into Presidents’ Athletic Conference play, and only one of those resulted in a win. That win would be the lone home win of the season for first-year head coach Sean McCarthy. “The support for us was good. The crowd helped us through the season,” said McCarthy. “We want to put on a show for those who follow the team. We want the crowd to enjoy our games and come back.” The Jackets played their last home game of the season Monday against the Geneva but unfortunately came up short again, 2-1. The Jackets had quite the task on their hands to overcome the Golden Tornadoes, who came into the game sporting a 12-2-2
Postseason hopes gone Continued from C1
ward Cassie Spalding headed in a ball just out of junior goalkeeper Katrina Kelly’s reach to tie the game 1-1. “The defending was excellent,” McCarthy said. “We just had a little miscommunication in the back with probably about 12 minutes left, and a very good player for Bethany, [Spalding], got behind and just nodded it home.”
Wrestling ranked 30th Continued from C1
the trainers put it back into place. He has been wrestling the past two years with a torn labrum, and this is not the first time it has been dislocat-
work ethic and expectations. “It is obvious they have worked hard and have had a great amount of dedication to the pre-season workouts,” Jones said. Jones also noted his players’ intensity has increased. For the freshman on the team, this is a completely new outlook on extra-curricular activities. In high school, in most cases, athletes are only able to get into the gym and put in work during practice. Many have not
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Unfamiliar tryouts greet Jacket men By Emilee Wagner Staff Writer
Photo by Gregory Reinhart
Senior Ryan Hartz dribbles the ball downfield against Geneva, while junior Evan Kaufman holds off a defender. Hartz scored the lone Jacket goal on senior night. record overall. The match was scoreless for most of the match until Geneva’s David Gerlach scored 75 minutes into the game. Geneva would strike again just three minutes later when Jake McCracken put a shot behind freshman goalkeeper Dan Buzzard. Buzzard played all 90 minutes in net for the Jackets, making 11 saves. Senior midfielder Ryan Hartz would end his final home game as a Jacket with a goal with seven minutes remaining.
“Hartz is a good player. He creates chances and is dangerous across the middle of the field,” said McCarthy. “I hope he can stay around and watch this team build and know he was one of the founding members.” Geneva held off Waynesburg, leaving the Jackets with only one win at home this season. “It is very hard and disappointing finishing the way we did. Going into PAC play I felt good about our chances, and it’s never easy to lose,” said Hartz.
The season is not over for the Jackets yet, though. They face Thiel Friday at 1 p.m. “I want to go out with a win. We know we are out of the race, but it’s about pride and ending the season on a good note. I don’t want to end my college career with a loss,” said Hartz. “We are going into the game with nothing to lose and want to get a win. We don’t have any wins in PAC play yet and know that we deserve to get a win. We’re going to work hard and make sure we get it.”
Kelly stopped all six shots by Bethany in overtime, as the Waynesburg offense couldn’t get a shot off in the extra time. Kelly made 13 saves in the game. The Jackets were outshot 30-9. “The first overtime we came out like gangbusters, and we pushed. We had two or three chances, maybe not shots on goal, but [ones] we felt were good scoring opportunities,” McCarthy said. “The second overtime it seemed like we were shot with our legs. “Normally when we get the early goal, we hang on, but I’m proud of the
effort of the girls,” McCarthy added. “They fought incredible; the energy, the effort, the defending and the counterattacking was all very good.” The tie brings the women’s record to 8-6-3 overall and 2-4-1 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. It also might bring a new mentality to the team moving into the last week of the season. “I think this week will be a little bit less stressful for the team,” Spicuzza said. “It’s a really good bonding experience, and it’s a good time for us to reflect on how much
we’ve improved this season.” The Jackets faced Geneva College yesterday, but the results were not available at press time. Waynesburg wraps up regular season play when they travel to Thiel College on Friday. “We just want to keep pushing for our seniors and the improvement of the team,” McCarthy said. “I think the girls understand that we’ve just got to keep getting better, keep pushing forward and good things will happen when you keep working hard.”
ed. However, his injury looks to put him out for the season, obviously preventing him from wrestling Saturday in the Orange and Black Wrestle-offs at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. He plans on getting surgery during the winter break and undergoing rehab to come back stronger next year. “I can’t practice, but
I’ll still be around doing whatever I can,” said Byerly. “But I think we have a great team with a lot of talent. If they work hard, then they should be able to repeat as PAC champs.” As expected, there will be some very good matchups this weekend. There will be three guys wrestling at both the 125-
pound and 133-pound spots. “I think 133 [pounds] will be our best,” said Headlee. “All of those guys are pretty evenly matched. I mean, we’ll know a little bit more about our team this Saturday, not just seeing the guys in the practice room. We’re just anxious to see what a lot of our young guys are doing.”
had an open gym year round where they could work out at a designated time when the gym was not occupied by other winter or fall sports. “In high school we were not allowed in the gym without a coach,” freshman guard Elaine Hasek said. “Practice is a different atmosphere when you are able to put in the extra work.” The Jackets open up their season at home against Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, on Nov. 16.
The Waynesburg men’s basketball team kicked off its season Oct. 18 with an unfamiliar procedure. The first three days of practice consisted of tryouts, which allowed new head coach Mark Christner to see everyone’s individual talents. “It is definitely different for the players, but it helps out greatly with figuring out what we need to work on,” Christner said. “The tryout procedure has been a little different for me because I’ve never really been through one before,” senior guard Erik Noone said. “It was very competitive, and everyone did their best to try and impress coach.” The first few days of practice have been full of pressure for the Yellow Jacket men, but junior guard Larry Alexander feels they have gone well. “Even with the added pressure of tryouts, the first couple days of practice have been great,” Alexander said. “I really think that the guys have stepped up to the challenge and have been working hard and playing great.” Along with the tryout, the Jacket men have also had to deal with adjusting to a new coach. “The biggest adjustment has been getting to know the system that Coach wants to run and the way he wants it done,” Noone said. “It was a little scary going into the first few days of practice not knowing what we were getting into, but I think everyone has a feel for what he is expecting of us. I’ve never switched coaches throughout my career, so
this is a little different for me, but so far it has been a good experience.” One of the most important things that Christner wants to do with his team in the first days of the season is to build their mental toughness. The tryout procedure has been tough, but by building up their mental toughness, it will make them better as a team overall, and they will start to be more confident. The team this year is top-heavy with four seniors and six juniors, which gives it plenty of experienced players who could step up into leadership roles. These ten upperclassmen, along with two sophomores, will help guide the three freshmen along this season. The Waynesburg men are coming off a 2-22 season in 2009-10, but with a new approach, they have high hopes for 2010-11. “My goal for us this season is to win the Presidents’ Athletic Conference,” Noone said. “If we can get on a roll early in the season, it will give us the confidence that we need to win games in conference play because nothing is handed to you in the PAC – you have to earn your wins.” Alexander agreed with his teammate on his aspirations to win the PAC. “It would be awesome if we could win the PAC,” he said. “If not, I really want us to be a great team and play hard every single night.” “There are a lot of guys here that have been through all of these tough seasons in the past few years, but that’s good for the other guys,” Christner said. “We are looking forward to a great year.”
The NWCA recently released the Division III national wrestling rankings. Shown below are the country’s top 5 teams and how Waynesburg stacks up among the elite squads in D-III. 1. Augsburg College (Minn.) 2. Wartburg College (Iowa) 3. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (Wis.) 4. Coe College (Iowa) 5. Ithaca College (N.Y.) 30. Waynesburg
YELLOW JACKET
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Page C3
Sports
Cross country prepares for PAC Championships Jacket men healthy for PAC meet
Women’s XC hopes momentum, home course advantage lead to solid finish
By Matt Paris
The Waynesburg University women’s cross country team is preparing to host the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships Saturday. The PAC Championship race will take place at the Jackets’ home course, the Greene County Airport, giving the Yellow Jackets an obvious advantage going into the race. “We’ll [the team] definitely have a huge advantage,” said freshman Bre Paul. “We all know when to kick in, when to pass, where to go faster and where to fall into our pace. We’ll be working out at the course a lot this week as well to get used to the terrain and such, and that will be a huge help as well.” Aside from running on their home course, head coach Chris Hardie believes his team has one additional advantage. “This team has some momentum right now, so the timing of the race is perfect,” said Hardie. “Each and every runner knows that they are in the best shape of their life
By Nicole Forte Staff Writer
Staff Writer The Waynesburg University men’s cross country team is preparing for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships. The team has waited for this race all year, but head coach Chris Hardie doesn’t want them to get too excited. “My message to the team is to run the race the way they have ran all year,” said Hardie. “If the opportunity to be great presents itself, then grab onto it and embrace the challenge.” Injuries can often become a problem this late into the season, but the Yellow Jackets seem to be at full strength. “We are very lucky in that we have not had an issue with that this season, and that will continue into the PAC Championships,” said Hardie. “Last week we saw some fatigue set in, which caused some minor aches and pains, but the team fought through it and are ready for the competi-
File Photo
Kyle Edwards and the rest of the Jackets will run in the PAC Championships Saturday on their home course. tion.” Practice this week is going to be business as usual for the Jackets. “Most teams practice the same way this week leading up to the championship meet,” said Hardie. “So the best way to accomplish both of these is to work with the same intensity that you have all year but drop the mileage about 15 percent.” The Jackets are hoping to build off of their second-place finish at the Hood College Open. “The team knows that
they are in great shape and running strong,” Hardie said. The Jacket men are also hoping to produce a similar, if not better, finish than last year’s PAC Championship race, in which they finished fifth. “Great teams step up when greatness presents itself,” said Hardie. “So we can all expect a good showing.” The PAC Championships take place at the Jackets’ home course, the Greene County Airport. Starting time is set for 11 a.m.
right now, so knowing they are fast and having the confidence to bring it on race day gives us an obvious edge right now.” The women did not run a race this past weekend, and junior captain Michelle Naymick thinks that will benefit the team in the championship race. “We will be rested and more prepared to race,” said Naymick. “The extra week off gives our injuries time to heal and gives us the ability to race harder.” Paul believes that the week off gives her team an advantage beyond the physical benefits. “Not only will our legs be fresh, but our minds as well,” said Paul. “Taking a week off from running a race also relieves mental stress. Most of us got a chance to go home and relax this weekend, and I think that will definitely help.” Since their last race the women have changed up their training regimen to finish out the season. “The training changes a lot the last 14 days of the training cycle,” said Hardie. “The women have been running more speed. It helps freshen a runner’s mentality this
late in the season as they really get to go all out this week. [Assistant] Coach Michelle Cross has done a sensational job, and the girls have responded really well.” Hardie has planned the training to have his team peak for this race. He has high regards for the competition level his team will face in the championship race. Hardie is confident his team will race as well as they can, and according to Hardie, that is all he and his coaching staff can ask. Naymick is simply excited to run against her conference foes to see where she stands among them. Paul is looking forward to seeing where the team places amongst the other PAC teams. “I’m mostly looking forward to what we can do as a team,” said Paul. “We’re pushing to place in the top three. “If we all race well, I think we can get third, and if we all have outstanding races, I think we have a shot at second.” The Jacket men will take the course first at 11 a.m., with the women to follow at 11:45 a.m.
‘Full scholarships’ in D-I, D-II athletics not always so full By Ben Carpenter Staff Writer It’s common knowledge that the fundamental difference between the NCAA’s Divisions I, II and III is that Division III institutions do not give out athletic scholarships to any athletes. The scholarships in Divisions I and II are distributed to athletes one of two ways: either the athlete receives a “full scholarship,” which implies that the student-athlete does not have to pay for school, or he or she will receive a partial scholar-
Jackets end up in sixth Continued from C1 In sixth singles McDonald fell 6-0, 6-0 to Saint Vincent’s Stephanie Rubin. In her final match at Waynesburg, McAndrews lost 6-3, 6-0 to Chatham University’s Leisha Durstine in fifth singles. McAndrews, a marine biology major, will fulfill her academic requirements next year in Florida, making this 2010 campaign her last. “Playing tennis at Waynesburg has been a great experience for me,” said McAndrews. “Coach and my teammates have helped me throughout the years, and we have become a family, and I will miss them all.”
ship that will help soften the blow of the cost of tuition. However, according to a new study done by Ithaca College, it seems as though the “full-ride” so often portrayed as a free ticket to college isn’t quite so full. “It’s really deceptive to use the words ‘full scholarship,’” said Ramogi Huma, former UCLA linebacker and head of the National College Players Association. “There’s never an explanation for recruited athletes that the price tag for attending school falls
short of the scholarship amount.” The study found that the average Division I student-athlete with a full scholarship actually ends up having to pay $2,951 every year in school-related expenses that are not covered by their scholarship. At some schools, this amount can approach or even exceed the cost of tuition. For example, at Arkansas-Little Rock the 2009 shortfall was almost $11,000. Huma suggests that elite student-athletes
whose scholarships do not effectively cover the cost of going to school are much more susceptible to accepting money from agents. The whole notion of student-athletes accepting money from agents is becoming a major issue in recent weeks after a Sports Illustrated report stated that former agent Josh Luchs paid over 30 college football players from 1990-96. Another source of the agent/athlete relations controversy is the talks between the NFL and NCAA regarding possible
financial penalties for players who have taken money and benefits from agents. The NFL is considering fines and suspensions during a player’s rookie season if he is found to have taken improper benefits from an agent while they were still in school. North Carolina defensive lineman Marvin Austin and five other Tar Heel players have already been ruled ineligible by the NCAA for this current season in 2010-11 because they took money from agents. Austin was actually kicked off the
team when it was discovered that he received between $10,000 and $13,000 in benefits. Defensive end Robert Quinn and receiver Greg Little were ruled “permanently ineligible” by the NCAA for having taken over $4,900 in improper benefits from agents. “If they [the institution] were to fully fund scholarships, there would be less temptation,” says Huma. According to the NCAA, the current formula is appropriate for
The season did not go the way the Jackets intended it to, as they posted a 5-12 overall record. However, they’re already eager to start working toward next year, something Christman thinks will take time. “Most improvement takes a while for you to see results,” said Christman. “The team has already talked about starting to get back to work soon and improve for next year.” With young talent and experienced players returning, the Jackets look toward next year and a run at the 2011 PAC Championships. According to Christman, recruiting will be the key. “If I can fill in our trouble areas with good recruits, we’ll be set,” said Christman. “We just have to get them here and close the sale.”
Return TDs key victory
points out of any twominute situation,” Shepas said. “We didn’t need many timeouts [to get in position to score].” The third quarter was scoreless until Dawson hit senior tight end Zach Fatigante for a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining in the quarter. Storck
tacked on the point after to make it 27-7. The game was put out of reach on the very next drive for Frostburg. This time it was the Jackets defense that put points on the board when sophomore defensive back Bryan Gary intercepted a Geoff Suddath pass and returned it 50 yards for a Jacket touchdown (pictured at left). Storck added the extra point to draw the lead to 34-7. “[On defense] we just want to get the offense the ball back,” Gary said. “We want to set up the offense in good field position, so they can score.” Gary was not done on defense. He intercepted his second pass of the day to set up the Jackets final touchdown on the afternoon. Freshman running back Dom Moore moved the score to 41-7 when he scored his team-best sev-
enth touchdown of the season. Dawson led the Jackets through the air, as he passed for 232 yards, while tossing two touchdowns and throwing one interception. Anthony Young was the game’s top receiver, as he caught a game-high seven receptions for 143 yards for the Bobcats. Waynesburg’s top tackler on defense was sophomore linebacker Alex Menton. Menton had nine tackles. Waynesburg will now look to continue its current three-game winning streak as they head on the road Saturday to take on a much-improved Saint Vincent squad. The Bearcats (2-2, 2-5) are coming off a blowout victory, 42-17, last Saturday against Grove City. Kickoff in Latrobe is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Continued from C1 nomenal in the return game and in kick coverage as well,” head coach Rick Shepas said. The Jackets extended their lead just before halftime, as the team was successful for their third straight game in scoring with under two minutes remaining in the half. Jacket senior quarterback Brad Dawson connected with sophomore tight end Adam Moses for a 16yard touchdown strike with just three seconds left in the first half. Storck added the extra point to give the Jackets a 20-7 lead. “My job is to manage the game wisely and get
Photo by Tim Jackson
See NOT on C4
YELLOW JACKET
Page C4
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sports
Volleyball snaps 10-game losing skid By Katie Rihn
gotten what it felt like to win, and it is an amazing feeling. Winning against Chatham makes our team realize that we have what it takes to be a good volleyball team, and we have the ability to stomp our opponent.” In their second match of the night the Jackets fell in straight sets to another PAC opponent Saint Vincent. For the first two sets, Waynesburg battled back and forth with the Bearcats, dropping the first set 25-22 and taking the second set way into extended play before falling 29-27. The Jackets fell behind early in the third set and could not recover, giving the win to Saint Vincent 25-9. “They played together as a team and carried over
the momentum from Chatham,” said head coach Stephanie Benkowski. “They played to their potential. We didn’t get stuck in any rotation for the first two sets, and we played with total confidence.” Smithyman credits the team’s chemistry to their strong play. “We have been working so hard at practice, and the way we played against Saint Vincent showed that,” said Smithyman. “We played consistent the whole match and everyone’s chemistry connected. Along with chemistry, everyone was positive throughout mistakes and pulled each other back on their feet.” A couple of other Jack-
et players recorded season-high totals in various statistical categories, along with Blaich’s season best in kills against Chatham. Culp recorded seven kills, which is not only a season-high but also a team-high for the match. Ranallo picked up an additional 15 assists against the Bearcats, but her defense stepped up as she notched seven digs, a personal best this season. “In high school I played all the way around, so it’s been awhile since I played defense,” Ranallo said. “Against Saint Vincent I just worked really hard to get those digs.” Waynesburg enters the final week of its season, and for Culp, she is looking forward to a solid finish to her freshman campaign. “I would love to end the season of my freshman year on a good note by picking up two wins,” Culp said. Benkowski is looking for her team to push hard the last two matches. “We have two good teams this week,” said Benkowski. “If we play like we know how, we can push them to four or five sets and make them think Waynesburg came ready.” In addition to the Dig Pink matches, the Jackets dropped a 3-0 match last Wednesday at Geneva. The Jackets take on Thiel tonight at 7 p.m. in their last home match.
Last year the Division I Awards, Benefits, Expenses and Financial Aid Cabinet considered changing up the scholarship formula, but the proposal was not considered any further. Missouri-Kansas City
athletic director Tim Hall, whose school ranks fifth highest in the study with average out-of-pocket expenses of $5,030 annually, says that his employees do not deceive recruits about their financial responsibilities beyond
the scholarship amount given. “UMKC coaches and staff are careful to communicate to our potential student-athletes exactly what financial aid package will be provided to them,” said Hall.
Staff Writer The Waynesburg University women’s volleyball team competed in three matches this past week, picking up a victory and dropping its other two matches. The Yellow Jackets (819, 2-12) snapped a 10game losing streak Friday night at home by sweeping Presidents’ Athletic Conference foe Chatham during the opening Dig Pink match. Waynesburg won by the set scores of 25-21, 26-24 and 25-11. “It felt great to get that win,” said freshman middle hitter Mabel Culp. “The team needed a win to keep our spirits up and to show ourselves that the hard work we put in at practice every day pays off.” Leading the charge for the Jackets in terms of kills was freshman outside hitter Katelyn Blaich, who reached the double digit mark, recording a season-high 11 for the game. Freshman setter Natalie Ranallo notched a team-high 15 assists, while sophomore Carly Smithyman followed closely behind with 13. Junior outside hitter Jordan Barton enjoyed a successful match in terms of her serving by racking up four service aces and a .947 serve percentage. “Our win against Chatham was a relief,” said Barton. “We had for-
Not so full scholarships Continued from C3 most of the student-athletes affected.
Photo by Tim Jackson
Sophomore middle hitter Shannon Langworthy serves one of the pink balls used in the Dig Pink event Friday.
PAC award After scoring five points during a 10-1 week for the Waynesburg women’s soccer team, junior forward Courtney Ebersole was recently honored as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Ebersole scored two of Waynesburg’s goals this past week. After assisting on Ebersole the first goal of the contest, her 11th goal of the season sealed Waynesburg’s 2-1 win over Grove City. It was the Jackets’ first victory over the Wolverines since before 2002. She then scored the team’s lone goal in a 1-1 double overtime tie against Bethany. Waynesburg finishes their 2010 campaign Friday on the road at Thiel at 3 p.m.
Conference wide open Continued from C1 conference wins and have been competitive in just about every game so far this season. Albeit a long shot, by winning out and receiving some help from Waynesburg, Saint Vincent could conceivably sneak into at least a tie for second place. That help the Bearcats need from Waynesburg would come in the form of a Jacket victory over W&J in the regular season’s final week. Although the Presidents’ only losses have been against nationally ranked opponents, narrow margins of victory in many of their wins point to the Jackets having a legitimate chance at finally knocking off their closest rivals. Saturday, W&J needed an interception in their own end zone with only six seconds left to hold off Geneva, 22-16. Geneva, a team the Jackets hung 51 points on earlier in the year, dominated in many statistical categories (348168 in total offense, 21856 in rushing yards, 23-10 in first downs, etc.) but couldn’t find a way to pull
out the victory. All that said, if the Presidents can simply take care of Grove City at home and winless Thiel, Waynesburg will be all that’s standing in their way of a third straight second-place finish. The only team to beat Waynesburg in conference play to this point, Bethany, is still in the mix as well. Another team on the rise, Bethany saw their three-game win streak halted at home by Thomas More, 48-14. After that surprisingly lopsided result, a late season stumble appears quite possible, especially with Saint Vincent coming to town Nov. 13. But much like the Bearcats, wins in each of their final two contests and a little assistance from a few other squads could put Bethany into at least a tie for second place. So, while Thomas More and W&J still sit at No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference, there’s no telling what those final PAC standings may look like in just three weeks. Luckily for the Jacket faithful, Waynesburg’s one of only a few teams still with the opportunity to be crowned PAC champs when those three weeks are all said and done.
The type of car you drive might lead to more speeding tickets. Read more on D3
Thursday, October 28, 2010
‘Commendable chapter award’ given to ACS club Students By Brandon Reed Staff Writer The hard work of one of Waynesburg’s most active chapters, the American Chemical Society, finally paid off this past week. The chapter has been recently chosen to receive the “Commendable
Chapter Award” from the American Chemical Society. This award comes from all the hard work and activities done by the chapter in the 2009-10 academic year. The Society Committee on Social Education looked at 360 different student chapter activity
reports and chose Waynesburg as one of the 68 chapters to receive this award. “The chapter will be published in Chemical & Engineering News as well as in Chemistry magazine,” Dr. Evonne Baldauff, assistant professor of Chemistry said. The chapter will also
be recognized at the 241st ACS National Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., in March 2011. The chapter participates in many activities such as Merit Scholarship Day and Science Visitation Day. They also participate in the Health Fair and the National Chemistry Con-
vention, as well as working with local Girl Scout troops to help them earn their Chemistry Interest Project Patch, the chapter has also provided assistance with homeschooling programs by performing monthly experiments. The Chapter also par-
By Aaron Thompson See ACS on D2
cost is $1 per student and they can play a few rounds with their friends on their own lane. Live music will be provided by “Pete Mally and Friends” as well as “Roundhand Rowan.” There will also be a raffle with baskets donated from businesses in the community, and the drawing to see which students will compete in the competition. As in See EVENT on D2
See STUDENTS on D2
By Stephanie Laing Editorial Assistant
Photo by Kaitlin Edwards
From left to right, Ryan Harr, Kirstin Repco, Amanda Silay and Emily Ellis paint pumpkins with superhero logos in preparation for the Pumpkin Bowling event beginning at 4 p.m. today.
Pumpkin bowlers to compete tonight By Kelsey Bradley Staff Writer
“Pumpkin Bowling is one of the great American traditions… baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and pumpkin bowling,” said assistant professor of the Department of Communication, Lanny Frattare. “When I first stepped foot on this campus, I heard about Pumpkin Bowling. Last October, I experienced my first “orange roll” See WALTERS on D2 and I was not disap-
pointed.” Pumpkin Bowling will start today at 4 p.m. in Johnson Commons. This year’s theme is Superhero Pumpkin Bowling. “Each year we bring in a few public figures from the Waynesburg community because we don’t want this to be a campus only event,” sophomore Promotions Director for WCYJ- FM Caitlyn Bolon said. “We have so much fun participating and watching it
all come together that we want the community to share that with us as well.” This year, the event starts at 4 p.m. and the actual bowling with staff and Waynesburg community members will run from 8-10 p.m. Not only is the time different this year, but there are also a number of changes added to Pumpkin Bowling. From 4 to 6 p.m., students will be able to “pay to play” pumpkin bowling. The
Assistant Sports Editor Waynesburg University prides itself as an institution that challenges students to pursue lives of purpose through faith, learning and serving. The University is also one of 27 Bonner Scholar schools in the country. There are numerous opportunities of mission trips both domestically and internationally at Waynesburg. This year, the university is offering 18 mission trips to students. These trips are aided tremendously by fundraising efforts, collectively and by each individual trip. “It is extremely important [to have fundraisers],” said Dave Calvario, dean of Students and director of the Center for Service Leadership. “Many students would not be able to participate in these trips without the Mission Service Trip Scholarship Fund.” According to Calvario the Mission Service Trip Scholarship Fund awarded more than $36,000 to students for domestic and international trips. Calvario said that money is raised through a variety of different fundraisers and functions. Some of these include Ten Thousand Villages, Soup for the Soul, spaghetti dinners and Phone-a-thon. Monetary donations are also accepted. “Without fundraising, international participation would be extremely low,” Calvario said. The first wave of trips will occur during the week of fall break. Trips include Greene County Habitat for Humanity, World Ser-
Walters discusses legality of drugs John P. Walters went from serving in the White House in four presidential administrations, serving as the executive vice president of the Hudson Institute, to visiting Waynesburg University. Walters spoke on “The Drug Problem Today: Past, Present and Future Trends,” Monday night in Alumni Hall, providing attendants with facts concerning drug abuse and ways to combat the problem in society. “We have a drug problem because of the substances we are talking about, which include alcohol as well as the typical illegal drugs you hear about,” said Walters. “We now know the changes [drugs] make in the chemistry of the brain. They cause not only impairment of judgment, but addiction and craving.” According to Walters, alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine or prescription drugs create chemical changes within the brain that forces the addict to use. If the addict does not have the drug, they feel
to raise funds for service
Open Mic Night follows Artist Talk given by Charlee Brodsky By Carrie Maier Staff Writer Waynesburg University’s Alumni Hall hosted a busy Wednesday as photographer Charlee Brodsky gave an Artist Talk followed by an Open Mic Night. “We’ve never done Open Mic Night in this format before – on the tail end of a lecture,” said Martin Cockroft, assistant professor of Creative Writing. On display since Oct. 18, Brodsky’s exhibit dis-
cussed the concepts and origins of her exhibit titled, “I Thought I Could Fly.” Brodsky is an author and professor of photography at Carnegie Mellon University as well as an acclaimed photographer. “The exhibit has photographs she has taken paired with statements by people with mental illness,” said Susan Phillips, art program director. Brodsky said the inspiration to convey people’s individual experiences with mental illness came
from her own daughter’s diagnosis with bipolar disorder some years ago. Brodsky said her work deals with “social issues and beauty.” Organized by the American Jewish Museum in Pittsburgh, the traveling exhibit came to Waynesburg after Phillips received a phone call asking if she would host it. It will remain on display in the Benedum Fine Arts Gallery until Nov. 12. Immediately following Brodsky’s artist talk was
an Open Mic Night held in Alumni Hall for the first time. “We’ve been hosting Open Mic Nights once per month for about three or four years now,” Cockroft said. “But this year we wanted to co-sponsor more events so we approached Susan Phillips about this one.” The event is hosted by Muse & Stone, the University’s literary magazine, which is advised by Cockroft. See BRODSKY on D2
Photo by Amanda Rice
Charlee Brodsky discussed her exhibit, ‘I Thought I Could Fly,’ during the Artist Talk held on Wednesday.
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Feature
Students raise funds Continued from D1 vants to Phillipi, W.Va., and a trip to Patzun, Guatemala. The trip to Guatemala will take place Nov. 20-27. Director of Alumni Relations and trip leader Heidi Szuminsky will make her sixth trip to Guatemala and her fourth year as a leader. “Waynesburg University students participate in this particular service trip to Guatemala each year,” she said. “We keep returning to Guatemala because there is great need; many of the children who live at the Center have lived very tough lives, wrought with poverty, uncertainty and all too often, abuse. According to Szuminsky, Waynesburg students participating in the trip will assist with painting and manual labor as well as providing programming for the children. Activities
Walters talks to students Continued from D1 sickly. “This is a disease process,” said Walters. “Some of these substances are toxic. Many of them, across the board, but at different rates, do cause dependency.” Along with the dependency, Walters discussed the other side-effects of drugs. He mentioned that some mental illnesses can be linked with marijuana use. “Marijuana is both an accelerate and a trigger for mental illness and behavior problems,” said Walters. According to Walters, research in Britain ties marijuana to increasing depression, thoughts of suicide and psychosis. “What the data shows, the movement from
Event to change Continued from D1 past years, snacks and hot drinks will also be provided. This extended time period allows the radio station to ease into the event, according to General Manager Emily Ellis. There will be no
Photo by Kaitlin Edwards
Pat Bristor sits with a boy named Luis at the Centro Nutritional y Hogar de Ninos in Patzun, Guatemala last January while participating in a mission trip. Students are currently raising money to participate in this trip. will include arts and crafts, sports, music and games. Szuminsky said participation in mission trips could impact a student for the rest of their life.
“Ask any student who has ever participated in this trip, and they will tell you it is life-changing,” she said. “You can’t be around that kind of poverty and hurt and walk
away unchanged. My hope is that the students participating in this year’s trip will have their eyes opened to the circumstances and poverty in which much of the
experimentation to getting into drug use, even at ages 12 to 17, is greater for marijuana than it is for cigarettes or alcohol,” said Walters. “The younger you use, because of the chain of effect on the brain and the maturity of the brain, the greater the risk of becoming dependent. You will change the risk factor for the rest of your life.” According to Walters, the human brain matures through age 20. Using drugs before that age can create chemical changes in the brain that increase the risks of drug abuse later in life. Walters discussed the attempts in school systems to remove drugs. The criminal justice system has also tried to treat those dealing with drug addictions. “The criminal justice system is the biggest outreach of treatment in the United States,” said Walters. “More and more
drug courts have been instituted nation-wide. Eighty percent of cases in the United States are linked with drug addiction.” Participants asked questions concerning personal accountability for drug use and California’s attempt to legalize marijuana. “[Walters’] information showed that marijuana is not harmless and that is does have very serious risks associated with the usage,” said senior prelaw and history majors Jared Kephart. “I think he made a pretty good case for not legalizing marijuana.” Walters’ understanding of drug abuse, ascertained from previous careers, helped him make his arguments. He began in the National Endowment for the Humanities and was an assistant to the secretary and chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Education during Presi-
dent Ronald Reagan’s administration. He continued as chief of staff and director of supply and reduction in the Office of National Drug Control Policy during President George H. W. Bush’s and the first year of President Clinton’s administrations. “From 2001 to January 2009 Mr. Walters was the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and a cabinet member during the administration of President George W. Bush,” said Larry Stratton, lecturer of political science and visiting Stover Constitutional Fellow. In 2009, Walters joined the Hudson Institute, a non-partisan research organization. “As the nation’s drug czar, Mr. Walters guided all aspects of federal drug policy and succeeded in reducing teenage drug use by 25 percent,” said Stratton.
line up confusion; the drawing will be done early enough so the competition can be done smoothly, she said. The celebrity line up consists of people widely recognized in the community. Bowlers include Waynesburg University’s Sting, Director of Athletics Rick Shepas, President Timothy Thryeen, men’s basketball coach Mark Christner, Eric
Moore of Moore’s Hotdogs and Jeff McCracken, owner of McCracken Pharmacy. The winner will have their name put on the Pumpkin Bowling trophy, along with winners from the past. Juniors D.J. Main and Dave Keeling will host. Last year, 150 people attended Pumpkin Bowling. This year, with all of the new changes, Ellis hopes to host anywhere from 200 to 300 stu-
dents. “Pumpkin Bowling is such a unique event that is recognized by everyone on campus,” said Ellis. “We gain the support of faculty, staff and students by including many faculty and staff as guest bowlers for the event. It is a great tradition that is a lot of fun. People love coming out to Pumpkin Bowling: campus and community.”
world’s population lives and become advocates for change.” According to Szuminsky the 14 students have been working on numerous fundraisers for the
trip, which costs $1,100. Students sold a fallthemed raffle basket that included numerous items. They also benefited from Bob Evans. If customers used a flyer coupon on certain days, 15 percent of those proceeds would go toward fundraising for the trip. They have also accepted monetary collections at a few home football games. The most successful fundraiser has been one in which the students going on the trip have sent support letters to their churches, family and friends asking for donations to benefit their attendance of the trip. “The fundraising is going really well,” Szuminsky said. “The majority of students have one third of their trip paid for.” Szuminsky said these mission trips are what separates Waynesburg from most schools when it comes to community service. “A lot of universities have some aspect of community service,” she said.
Photo by Amanda Rice
The third floor of Stewart was decorated for National Chemistry Week held Oct. 18-23.
ACS given award Continued from D1 ticipates in National Chemistry Week by offering demonstrations at the Carnegie Science Center. Dr. Robert LaCount, director of Chemistry Program said, “They are a really active group and we are very proud of them.” According to LaCount, Baldauff and he only oversee the chapter; it is all up to the students to get involved with all the activities that they do. The ACS student chapter has been an active chapter on the Waynesburg campus for more than 50 years now. “I have been able to trace the ACS student chapter back into the ’50s.” LaCount said.
Brodsky gives talk Continued from D1 He attributed credit to Executive Editor Sarah Rizzi for organizing Wednesday’s outing. “The students involved in Muse & Stone picked the date and were responsible for the set-up,” said
In terms of recruiting, both Dr. LaCount and Dr. Baldauff believe that winning the award, and having it published in many nationwide magazines will be a positive thing. LaCount said, “There’s no way it can hurt recruitment.” Under the guidance of LaCount and Baldauff, the chapter is heading in the right direction this year. This past Thursday, the ACS student chapter hosted their annual Haunted Lab Tour on campus. “Local students and undergrads can do a lab with a Halloween theme,” Baldauff said. Members of the student chapter attend monthly lectures through the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh and also attend the National ACS Conference to present the chapter’s annual activities.
Cockroft. Brodsky’s artist talk and the Open Mic Night were not directly related, only in a sense that both events pertained to the arts, Cockroft said. “A few people we contacted and asked them to present something to prevent dead space,” said Cockroft. “Anyone can come by, read a poem, play a song, anything.”
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Global News
Make of car may lead to more speeding tickets By Jerry Hirsch Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES — Are you a traffic ticket magnet? If you drive a Mercedes-Benz SL Class convertible or a Toyota Camry-Solara Coupe or a Scion TC, don’t be surprised to find yourself squarely in the sights of a police officer’s radar gun. Certain cars - or is it their drivers? - seem to attract the attention of law enforcement officials, according to a study by Quality Planning, a San Francisco firm that verifies policyholder information for auto insurers. The company looked at the propensity of various vehicle makes to attract tickets based on the number of moving violations per 100,000 miles driven. Not surprisingly, it found that drivers of stylish “spirited”-looking vehicles and the outsized Hummer H2/H3 were the most likely to be cited by law enforcement officials. Drivers of the Mercedes-Benz SL Class roadster were 4.04 times as likely to get a ticket as the average for drivers of all vehicles. Camry-Solara drivers were second at 3.49 times as likely to be cited, followed by Scion TC drivers at 3.43 times. Hummers came in fourth at 2.92 times as likely to get a ticket, and the Scion xB was fifth at 2.70 times.
Quality Planning surmises that the propensity to get cited for a violation is linked to how one drives, and that’s expressed in the autos people choose. Ticket magnets were likely to be sporty cars while the vehicles least likely to get cited tended to be sport utility vehicles and minivans. The Buick Rainier SUV was the least likely vehicle to get a ticket at 0.23 times the rate of the average auto. It also had the oldest drivers, with an average age of 61. The Mazda Tribute and the Chevrolet C/K pickup truck were tied for second, followed by the Kia Spectra sedan and the Buick LaCrosse sedan. It’s not clear how the ages of the drivers influences the statistics. The Rainier had the oldest drivers, but the Mazda Tribute, which was just barely behind the Ranier in the leastticketed rankings, had the second-youngest drivers among the mostand least-ticketed models - an average of 36. When it came to traffic laws, a separate study by Quality Planning found that women were less likely than men to break them. It also found that men were more likely to violate laws designed to safeguard people and property. Men, for example, are cited for reckless driving 3.41 times more than women.
NEWS IN BRIEF
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Tibetan students against school changes
Egyptian president plans to stay in power
BEIJING – Protests by Tibetan students over plans to elevate Chinese to the main language of instruction in western China schools spread Friday to Beijing. Earlier in the week, as many as 9,000 people protested in Tibetan communities banners reading “Equality for minorities; equality for languages.” The protests were set off by plans of education officials to use only Chinese-language teaching materials except for language lessons. Among Tibetans, the language of instruction in schools is a flashpoint for protest. While many families wish their children to learn Chinese in order to attend college and apply for better jobs, they also worry that Chinese officials are seeking to diminish their language, culture and religion.
CAIRO – Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak plans to seek another term in office next year. Mubarak, 82, a staunch U.S. ally, has shown few signs of relinquishing his near-total hold on power. He’s barred official foreign observers from next month’s parliamentary elections, and he recently imposed a fresh set of restrictions on independent media and opposition politicians. Amid a string of firings and arrests targeting the press and opposition politicians, media watchdog groups charge that Mubarak’s regime is trying to silence critics ahead of the Nov. 28 parliamentary elections.
2 Insurers change payment plan for cancer WASHINGTON – One of the nation’s largest health insurers said Wednesday that it was testing a new way to pay for some cancer treatments. Payment for chemotherapy has been particularly controversial because some doctors, including oncologists, buy drugs at wholesale prices, dispense them by injection or infusion to patients in their offices, then charge insurers higher, retail prices. A government report found that Medicare, for example, reimbursed doctors at least $532 million more in 2000 than the doctors had paid to purchase the medicines. UnitedHealthcare takes a different approach. Its program, under way with five oncology practices in five states, pays physicians lump sums for each patient’s course of chemotherapy. It’s the first large foray into payment “bundling” for chemotherapy by a private insurer, although other insurers are testing the approach for hip and knee replacements, and Medicare will launch a program next year that combines drugs with dialysis services.
4 Afghan president admits receiving cash KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged receiving semi-regular cash payments totaling around $2 million annually from Iran but said the sums were meant to defray governmental operating costs. Other countries, including the United States, make such donations as well, he told reporters. American military officers in the field, for example, are sometimes given a considerable cash stockpile to be distributed to local tribal elders. Such spending is sometimes referred to as using cash as a weapon.
5 Acorn shortage leads bears downtown TOKYO – Many experts have agreed that this year’s dearth of acorns, on which bears feed, explains why dozens have wandered into cities. These bears have wandered into human settlements this year to look for food before going into hibernation, they said. A mature black bear usually weighs about 220 pounds. But a mature bear captured in the area this month weighed only 99 pounds. Some experts have suggested changes in forests and farmland are also behind the spate of bear encounters.
Debate between groups rage over health effects of marijuana By Sandy Kleffman Contra Costa Times WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The marijuana cigarette, with its pungent smell, became a symbol of the 1960s. Bill Clinton tried it, but he didn’t inhale. Comedians joked about burned-out dopers with brains altered by a variety of drugs, including pot. College students and young professionals passed around joints at parties and wondered: Why all the fuss? Now, four decades later, Californians will decide Nov. 2 whether to legalize recreational use of the drug. Proposition 19 would allow those 21 or older to possess as much as an ounce of marijuana and to grow it in spaces of 25 square feet or less. Although marijuana has been in use for years, voters will head to the polls with only a hazy understanding of its health effects. Research has been difficult because the
Photo by Michael Robinson Chavez/Los Angeles Times/MCT
Supporters of Proposition 19, to legalize marijuana in California, used their brightly painted fire truck to attract attention as they handed out literature and stickers to students at USC on Oct. 11. drug is illegal, and the limited studies that have been done often paint conflicting pictures. Among the murky areas: Marijuana smoke is laced with carcinogens and can lead to respiratory problems, but no link has been established with lung cancer. Some studies suggest the drug’s active ingredient may even have anti-cancerous
properties. It can be addictive one federal survey found that 4.3 million people had a problem with marijuana abuse or dependence in 2009 but research indicates it may not be as addictive as other drugs or alcohol. While people are under its influence, marijuana can impair memory and hinder the brain’s cognitive abili-
ties. Whether such effects are long-lasting is not clear. In rare instances, it can lead to psychotic episodes, but whether it can be linked to mental illness in vulnerable people remains an open question. One of the biggest unknowns is marijuana’s effect on a developing brain. Many experts consider this question particularly important
because brains mature until people are in their 20s. Also open to debate is whether legalizing marijuana would lead to more fatal traffic accidents, especially if people combine drinking with the drug. All of these uncertainties provide plenty of fodder for those on both sides of the Prop. 19 debate in California. Some medical professionals view marijuana as clearly less harmful than alcohol. “It seems to be a rather safe substance with very low potential for addiction and withdrawal,” said Dr. Donald Abrams, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco and chief of hematology and oncology at San Francisco General Hospital. He recommends marijuana for many of his cancer patients. “There are 8 million people in the United States that are relatively chronic marijuana users,” he said, “and many of them are high-
ly functioning people that hold full-time jobs and are creative members of society.” But others see reason for caution. Alan Budney, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, studies marijuana dependence and withdrawal. “If you start using it way too much, it starts affecting your life just like alcohol or any other drug does,” he said. “Your relationships suffer. Financially, you suffer. Employment and school-wise, you suffer. All the things that go along with dependence on any drug, I see that as the most chronic problem with marijuana. People abuse it.” So, how addictive is it? One well-known study found that one out of every 10 or 11 people who use marijuana will develop an abuse or dependence See CALIFORNIA on D4
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Global News
G-20: Recovery underway but ‘uneven’ By William Spain MarketWatch CHICAGO — Meeting in South Korea, the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers noted Saturday that a global economic recovery is under way but is uneven, and warned of the need to move toward more “market-determined” currency exchange rates. A recovery “continues to advance, albeit in a fragile and uneven way,” the group said in a joint communique. “Growth has been strong in many emerging-market economies, but the pace of activity remains modest in many advanced economies.”
Plenty of risks remain, they added, and those risks differ by country and region, “yet given the high interdependence among our countries in the global economic and financial system, uncoordinated responses will lead to worse outcomes for everyone.” Cooperation is essential, the group said, in urging a “move towards more market-determined exchange rate systems that reflect underlying economic fundamentals and refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies.” More advanced nations need to be “vigilant against excess volatility and disorderly move-
ments in exchange rates” in order to “help mitigate the risk of excessive volatility in capital flows facing some emerging countries.” For his part, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, attending the summit, said that the world’s economy “is going through a necessary, but complicated process of adjustment” following “large financial imbalances” that include excess borrowing, overinvestment in real estate and “unsustainable leverage in the financial sector.” All of these factors contributed to the current crisis and will likely slow the pace of recovery, he said, although “emerging-
market economies are expanding at a rapid pace, and are attracting substantial flows of capital.” What is needed is “a shift in growth strategies by countries that have traditionally run large trade and current-account surpluses, away from export dependence and toward stronger domestic demand-led growth,” Geithner said. “This entails a range of policy changes, as you can see in the very broad range of domestic reforms being undertaken by China. An important part of this transition is a gradual appreciation of these emerging-market currencies relative to the major currencies as a group.”
Millions of people in France protest again against Sarkozy pension reform
Continued from D3 problem. That compares to one out of three people who use tobacco, one out of six who drink alcohol, one out of six who use cocaine, and one out of five who use heroin. This suggests that marijuana is not as addictive as other drugs and alcohol. Budney cautions that if it is legalized and becomes
By Trenton Daniel and Jacqueline Charles McClatchy Newspapers
protest during which the gates to the school were blocked. Police suspect arson, France Info radio reported. There were clashes between police and protesting youths in several cities, such as Nanterre and Lyon, with pro-
testers hurtling projectiles and setting cars on fire, and security forces replying with teargas. Several police officers and a news photographer were injured in the skirmishes. In addition, a 15-yearold girl was taken to
hospital in Paris after being injured when a motor scooter was set on fire and exploded. With the measure almost certain to become law, it was unclear Tuesday what the unions’ next step would be.
less expensive and easier to obtain, its dependence numbers may rise. Marijuana comes from the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant. It is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. A 2008 federal survey found that 15.2 million people had used it within the past month. Most people inhale it in hand-rolled cigarettes, but it also can be mixed into foods such as brownies or used to brew tea. When smoked, the
active ingredient in pot, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, has an almost immediate effect. It passes from the lungs to the bloodstream and travels to organs throughout the body. In the brain, THC attaches to sites called cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells, changing the way those cells work. These receptors are abundant in parts of the brain that regulate memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination,
time perception, and pleasure. Within a few minutes, the heart rate may speed up and even double in some cases. This could pose problems for those with heart conditions, but Budney and others said it usually is a mild reaction that does not lead to serious heart troubles. One of the biggest concerns is the potential effect on the lungs, particularly since marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco
smoke. Marijuana joints have no filter and are more loosely packed than a tobacco cigarette. People tend to hold marijuana smoke in their lungs for about 16 seconds, much longer than the three or four seconds for cigarette smokers, said Donald Tashkin, a professor of medicine at UCLA and one of the world’s leading researchers on marijuana and the lungs. “You smoke marijuana differently from tobacco, so more of the particles have time to
dpa
California to vote
Doctors struggle to control cholera outbreak in Haiti ST. MARC, Haiti — Doctors and health care workers in Haiti struggled on Friday to stem a cholera outbreak as a hospital in this central port town swelled with patients as Haitian health officials called on the population to protect themselves. “The government, the ministers, everyone is mobilized. It is confirmed. It is cholera,” Dr. Claude Surena with Haiti’s Health Ministry told The Miami Herald. “We are talking to the population.” Surena said he could not confirm rumors that the contagious disease may already have spread outside of the lower Artibonite Valley in the center of the country to other parts of Haiti. The country is still reeling from the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 and left at least 1.5 million people living in tents and tarps. So far, 138 people were confirmed dead and at least 1,500 have been hospitalized in the region in recent days. “We are very, very worried about it spreading,” Surena said. At a hospital in St. Marc, located 55 miles north of the Port-auPrince, doctors saw an influx of patients through the night and into the morning. One health care worker said the hospital had treated
By Siegfried Mortkowitz PARIS — Some 3.5 million people marched in the streets of France Tuesday to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension reform, unions said. The sixth day of nationwide protests against the measure since early September was accompanied by job stoppages and a growing number of service stations running out of gasoline as a strike at France’s 12 oil refineries went into a seventh day. While the Interior Ministry put the number of demonstrators at only 1.1 million, Environment Minister JeanLouis Borloo said about 4,000 service stations, out of a total of 12,500, were in need of re-supply. The government began to act to ease the gasoline shortfalls, with an emergency meeting held in Sarkozy’s offices at the Elysee Palace to draw up appropriate measures. The protests were marred by renewed violence Tuesday as secondary-school students again took part in the movement. A middle school in the city of Le Mans burned down overnight following a student
Graphic by MCT
Protesters during a demonstration against pension reforms, in Perpignan, southern France, on October 19, 2010. French unions staged a national day of strikes over the government's pension reforms, which include President Nicolas Sarkozy's attempt to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. Photos by Michel Clementand Axelle de Russe/Abaca Press MCT
476 people through the night. “You have people coming out of fear,” said the health care worker, who declined to be named because she said she wasn’t authorized to speak to the press. “You can see we’re completely full.” Friday morning, nurses handed out antibiotics in the hospital courtyard to dozens of patients who suspected they may have cholera because they have the telltale sign of diarrhea. Meanwhile, twig-thin men and women lay on the ground as mask-wearing relatives held IVs aloft. Charles Henri Baker, a presidential candidate in the upcoming elections who had children dying in one of his campaign pickups Thursday before he could get them to the closet hospital, said the area needs field hospitals. “All of the hospitals in the Artibonite are full,” he said. He described the yard of one hospital as being “full of people on the ground and more are coming in by the hour. Morgues are full and most of the dead are buried in the area where they die.” Health specialists with the Haitian government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta are still trying to locate the source of the outbreak. The disease outbreak is the first of its kind since January’s earthquake.
deposit,” he said. Marijuana smokers are at increased risk of developing such respiratory problems as coughing, phlegm and bronchitis, studies have shown. Tashkin and his colleagues have found evidence of swelling, inflammation and microscopic injury in the lining of the major airways of marijuana smokers. So they speculated that this could lead to lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.