9.25.14 Yellow Jacket

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 | VOL. 92 NO. 3 | THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG

STUDENT PRODUCED SINCE 1924

University begins second Ph.D. program

"I think that if you go into a classroom and say, 'How many of you have experienced somebody significant dying in your life?' I think a majority of hands will go up."

Living with loss

By NIKA ANSCHUETZ Multimedia Editor

Jenny Schouppe, Yellow Jacket

Kati O'Rourke, senior human services major, holds her golden angel wing necklace, which doubles as an urn that holds the ashes of her father who died last March.

College students find ways to grieve while keeping focus on studies By NICK FARRELL Executive Editor

er family life wasn’t always normal. H Divorce in American families is be-

coming more common – in fact, more than 40 percent of marriages end this way now. Even drug use is up in the United J A C K E T L I F E States, with federal An occasional series surveys showing nearly 24 million Americans use illicit drugs. It’s how that substance abuse ripped her family apart that makes the family of Kati O’Rourke, senior human services major, a bit abnormal. “He lost everything because of that,” said O’Rourke, the McDonald, Pennsylvania native, referring to how her father’s life — and in ways, her own — was forever changed by his addiction to heroin. Her parents’ marriage ended because

of that addiction. Her father lost his apartment because of that addiction. Her father lived out of his car because of that addiction. He then lost his car after a serious accident, one that O’Rourke believes was an attempt at suicide. He then lost his life after committing suicide in March 2013. O’Rourke was 19 when she learned her father committed suicide. “I went to work the next day. The police called my work and said ‘you need to leave now.’ They wouldn’t tell me why,” said O’Rourke. “Then I went home, walked in and said to my mom, ‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’ She just said, ‘Yes.’” In the midst of her sophomore year at Waynesburg, needing to focus on her future while dealing with the grief of losing her father – with whom she was close, despite his addiction, O’Rourke chose

to take a week off before spring break to clear her mind and prepare herself to return to her studies. Jane Owen, director of the Counseling Center, said every student has a different way of dealing with grief, but that the feeling of loss is something every person shares in common. “Grief is universal — that loss, that missing person and how that person’s life changes,” said Owen, who is in the midst of her 28th year at Waynesburg. She added that in her 10 years as the Counseling Center’s director, she has noticed many more students dealing with the deaths of loved ones. “I think that the majority of students have experienced the death of somebody significant in their life, and I think many students have dealt with a significant friend that has died. That’s becoming

For the Yellow Jacket

While new renovations in Stewart Hall are still underway, with the third phase set to conclude in mid-December, two underclassmen girls’ dormitories have also received improvements

to both of their lounges. Renovations in Denny Hall and Burns Hall have entailed mostly cosmetic changes to the lounges. The decision to renovate the lounges was a last minute administrative verdict. The reaction to both new lounges has been very positive so far.

Psalms expert shares insight during lecture By SAMANTHA PEER Op/Ed Editor

blinds, painting and more space. Lounges are built and made to encourage community within the dormitories, and the renovations have already seemed to make an impact. When I met with Steere in the lower lounge of See DORMS on A4

See SPEAKER on A4

See LIFE on A4

Burns’ lower lounge got a makeover that included new flooring and painting. “In order for her residents to feel at peace and at home, a well kept building is key,” said Laurie Steere, resident director of Burns. The lounge in Denny Hall also got a bit of a facelift, with new

See COUNSELING on A4

Psalm 137 could be described as the most difficult psalm of the bible. This particularly challenging chapter of the book of Psalms was the topic of the B.F. Maiz Lecture Series in which Dr. Jerome F.D. Creach spoke. Creach is a Robert C. Holland professor of the Old Testament at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. His expertise and field of interest lies in the psalms of the prophets, the destiny of the righteous, and violence in the bible. Creach dissected Psalm 137 before a captive audience on Monday, in Alumni Hall. Creach explained that Psalms is a book in the bible that informs our prayers. “Psalms is a unique part of the bible because it is an entire book of prayer,” said Creach.

Lounges in Burns, Denny Halls receive facelift By ANNIE MCGLAUGHLIN

Waynesburg University is now offering a Ph.D. aimed for students who want to be counselors, educators and supervisors. The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision has 14 students with around half of them receiving their master’s degrees from Waynesburg. The program will give students the ability to enhance their knowledge and counseling ability. The Ph.D. program is a 60-credit, three-year program. It is comprised of four main components: teaching, research, supervision and advanced clinical practice, which will allow students to be well versed in a variety of areas. Dr. Scott Tracy worked in tandem with other professionals to develop the robust curriculum. “Currently counseling has a high job growth rate,” said Tracy. “We want to be a leader in mental health issues.” Tracy believes individuals do not need to have a mental health diagnosis to receive counseling services. With mental health issues becoming more prevalent, it is vital to educate and train individuals. “We believe that individuals who are

Senate-led recycling initiative increases environmental awareness By KIMMI BASTON Managing Editor

In an effort to care for Waynesburg University and for the future of our environment, student organizations are coming together this semester to begin a recycling initiative on campus. The idea was born in Student Senate, which consists

of committees that address various projects and issues on campus. Clarice Hune, junior nursing major and academic vice president on the Executive Board of Student Senate, is the head of the Recycling Committee. She and her committee have realized the importance of recycling for the university and have be-

gun work on reforming the current campus system. “We’ve recognized for a long time that there isn’t a whole lot of recycling going on [across] campus,” said Hune. “We have a few bins that are around campus, but often times they become full very quickly, or in the case of the dorms, there’s maybe one per dorm, so it’s incon-

venient for students.” The Ecostewards, an environmentally centered club on campus, will be joining forces with Student Senate for the initiative. Lindsey Bloomster, senior environmental science major and president of the Ecostewards, said her group is participating because recycling is important to the

club’s mission. “Our club is supposed to be helping environmentally on campus and in the area, and being stewards to God while we do it,” said Bloomster. Hune and Bloomster are also working with Joshua Dains, Student Senate president; Terry Sattler, director of facilities planning and

management; and Janet Paladino, advisor to the Ecostewards club. Collectively, they hope to improve the university’s process for recycling and increase the amount of recycling students engage in. The first obstacle for the project is the current provider the university uses for See RECYCLING on A4

INSIDE

COUNTY BELOW POVERTY LINE

JACKETS WIN IN DOUBLE OT

VARIETY SHOW FOR CHARITY

Campus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1–A4 Region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1, B4 Editorial/Op-ed. . . . . . . . B2 News Digest. . . . . . . . . . B3 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1–C4 Arts & Life. . . . . . . . . . . . D1–D2 Entertainment . . . . . . . . D3–D4

Greene County was rated one of the poorest counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania according to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission report.

Zac Capan's game-winning touchdown follows a blocked field goal to give Waynesburg a 44-38 win over Geneva Saturday, its third victory of the season.

An adjunct professor will be holding a variety show in conjunction with various community members to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Copyright © 2014 Waynesburg University 51 W. College St. Waynesburg, Pa. 15370

See B1

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See D1


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