www.theonlinerocket.com R ocket Volume 93, Number 23 Soſtball: Win streak ended by Cal Business Week: Teaching teamwork, business skills Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper Est. 1934 April 8, 2011 The SPORTS FOCUS Gun pulled off-campus, victim does not report it By Courtney Nickle Rocket Assistant News Editor A gun was pulled during an argument at The Heights apartment complex around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. According to the report by Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), two men were arguing along Stillwater Lane when one of the men pulled a handgun from his waistband and showed it to the other man, who fled from the scene. Trooper Ronald Kesten, the public information officer for Butler PSP, said the victim wasn’t the one who called the police. “Someone else called us and the victim doesn’t want anything done,” he said. Also early Saturday morning, a car was stolen from the parking lot of Campus Side apartments around 3 a.m. According to the report by PSP, the victim left her 2010 white Mazda 6 sedan running in the parking lot while she went inside the building. Kesten said the car was found in the parking lot Monday. “An unknown person took it and then returned the car,” he said. “We still don’t know who took it.” Students run 100 miles for PASSHE Advocacy Days By Courtney Nickle Rocket Assistant News Editor irty-seven students and faculty from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania ran 100 miles to Harrisburg Sunday to meet with state legislators for Advocacy Days, which were held Monday and Tuesday. All 14 PASSHE (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) schools were represented at Advocacy Days, including six SRU students and President Robert Smith, who met with several legislators to discuss Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget cut that would reduce PASSHE funding by 51.4 percent and leave SRU with a $22 million 2011-12 budget deficit. Lock Haven track and field coach Aaron Russell said the 37 people chose to make the 100-mile run to the steps of the Capitol Building for the hearings instead of riding a bus. Most of the runners were members of the track and field team, but four non-team students and one professor also participated. Russell said he ran a 5-mile leg of the trip. “When the crowd could see us coming they started cheering and played Rocky music,” he said. “It was a great way to get the topic out there.” Russell said the Lock Haven track and field team has already been impacted by the proposed budget cuts. “We have a couple of people we’re losing from the team next year because they have to go back to the state they’re from or go to work,” he said. “We already lost one student because they couldn’t afford it.” SRU SGA President Jeremiah Rosser helped organize the group originally. Rosser said after Karen Bell, vice chancellor for external relations, came to SRU Feb. 21 to speak about advocacy, President Smith asked him to compile a list of students to attend the hearings. “at day I began to collect the names of students who were interested,” he said. Rosser, Adam Kennerdell, SGA vice president of financial affairs; Elise Michaux, speaker of the senate; Sarah Browne, president of Global Literacy Outreach; and commuter senators Logan Miller and Jim Kramer attended the event. Miller said he was happy with the feedback he got from the legislators. “They genuinely seemed to care about our opinions and concerns with the higher education budget,” he said. “ey really wanted to hear our personal stories. So many of the legislators came from the state system, so they really do have our backs on this issue.” By Courtney Nickle Rocket Assistant News Editor SGA voted 13-7 at its meeting ursday to approve up to $84,000 for the first phase of construction on a multipurpose rink, with the stipulation that a maintenance plan be submitted and approved at the next senate meeting, April 21. e Co-Operative Activities Board had approved the money at its meeting March 31, but the Senate had to give it’s okay before the approval was official. The multipurpose rink would be built near the current intramural fields and would be used for hockey and basketball. SGA President Jeremiah Rosser said the amount is not definitive yet. “It’s up to $84,000 because we’d need to get bids so we’re not sure of the price yet,” he said. Mike Madden, the vice president of administrative affairs, said the first phase of construction would be to level, excavate and pour a concrete surface for students to play on. “If everything goes according to plan, this could be used in the fall for hockey and basketball,” he said. After the first phase is complete, other phases of the project could be implemented, including adding lights or a roof. Many senators, including commuter senator Marcie Johnson, raised the question of who is going to pay for the PHOTO SUBMITTED BY AARON RUSSELL Lock Haven University students and faculty run 100 miles to Harrisburg Sunday for Advocacy Days (Mon.-Tues.) to meet with legislators to voice their concerns about Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget cuts. Cybercrime rates on the rise at SRU By Eric Busch Rocket Staff Reporter Cybercrime at SRU has been on the rise since social media sites have increased in popularity, according to Leigh Ann Datt, interim director of the office of student conflict resolution services. Other universities have had similar problems in relation to cybercrime, she said. Datt said that John Cavanaugh, Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, requested that the state schools educate students on the topic because of the rise in cybercrime. About 20 people attended a panel discussion on cyberbullying Thursday during common hour in the McKay Education Building auditorium. According to information distributed at the event, the term “cyberbullying” is oſten misused. In order to legally be considered cyberbullying, all parties involved must be under the age of 18 or else it falls under federal and state harassment, stalking and privacy laws. The six-person panel concentrated much of the discussion on social media, particularly Facebook. Department of Communication Chairperson Thomas Flynn, said modern advances in computers have given individuals a platform for mediated expression. “We have a technology that makes us all publishers,” Flynn said. Karla Fonner, project coordinator of the Bridge Project, said some people don’t understand the consequences of posting information online. Fonner said the assumption is that if someone isn’t a friend on Facebook, anything posted isn’t his or her business, but this isn’t the case. Social Media Instructor Doug Strahler said he could spend hours on the subject of privacy. “e second you publish it online, it’s out there, it’s public,” he said. Strahler said he spends the first week of his Social Media course speaking about online etiquette. He said he looked at his students’ Facebook profiles at the beginning of the semester and most of them had public profiles. “By the end of the semester, I think one student had a public profile,” he said. According to Fonner, there is no specific policy at SRU regarding cyberbullying. She said it’s difficult to create policies around new technology, but cyberbullying fits under different code of conduct policies. e information Fonner put together for the event listed nine separate excerpts from the SRU code of conduct under which By Eric Busch Rocket Staff Reporter The University Curriculum Committee passed a motion unanimously Tuesday to eliminate the application process for exercise science students. According to committee member Associate Professor of Exercise Science William Ryan, the major has become so large, the interviews are hard to coordinate. From now on, students will have to remain in “good academic standing,” which means they have a GPA of 2.75 both in the major and overall. The committee also changed some of the prerequisites for exercise science courses to reflect the new requirements. All upper-level courses currently require students to be accepted in the major as a prerequisite, but this change has altered the wording to now say the student must be in good academic standing. Students will still need to achieve a grade of C or better in a prerequisite course in order for it to count. Ryan said students won’t fail the class if they get a D, but they will have to repeat the course in order to progress in the major. “We have found that those students who can’t get C’s usually have trouble at their internships,” Ryan said. The committee also approved the creation of two new special topics courses in the English department. Literary Pirates: Adaptations and Appropriations and Beats and Beyond will be the first two of many special topics courses the English department would like to add. Committee member Jace Condravy said the department is looking to create interesting classes for students. Condravy said the department’s goal is to offer one of these special topics classes each semester. The committee also discussed if these new courses should be offered SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A-2 SEE SGA, PAGE A-3 JASON ELLWANGER/THE ROCKET Greg Sferra, director of campus recreation, explains the maintenance required for the planned multipurpose rink at the SGA meeting Thurs. SEE SOME, PAGE A-2 Exercise science major eliminates application process SEE ONLINE, PAGE A-3 SGA members disagree on funding multipurpose rink
Transcript
www.theonlinerocket.com
RocketVolume 93, Number 23
Softball:Win streak ended by Cal
Business Week:Teaching teamwork, business skills
Slippery Rock University Student Newspaper Est. 1934
April 8, 2011
The
SPORTS FOCUS
Gun pulledoff-campus,victim doesnot report itBy Courtney NickleRocket Assistant News Editor
A gun was pulled during an argument at The Heights apartment complex around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
According to the report by Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), two men were arguing along Stillwater Lane when one of the men pulled a handgun from his waistband and showed it to the other man, who fled from the scene.
Trooper Ronald Kesten, the public information officer for Butler PSP, said the victim wasn’t the one who called the police.
“Someone else called us and the victim doesn’t want anything done,” he said.
Also ear ly Saturday morning, a car was stolen from the parking lot of Campus Side apartments around 3 a.m.
According to the report by PSP, the victim left her 2010 white Mazda 6 sedan running in the parking lot while she went inside the building.
Kesten said the car was found in the parking lot Monday.
“An unknown person took it and then returned the car,” he said. “We still don’t know who took it.”
Students run 100 miles for PASSHE Advocacy DaysBy Courtney NickleRocket Assistant News Editor
Thirty-seven students and faculty from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania ran 100 miles to Harrisburg Sunday to meet with state legislators for Advocacy Days, which were held Monday and Tuesday.
A l l 1 4 PA S S H E (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) schools were represented at Advocacy Days, including six SRU students and President Robert Smith, who met with several legislators to discuss Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget cut that would reduce PASSHE funding by 51.4 percent and leave SRU with a $22 million 2011-12 budget deficit.
Lock Haven track and field coach Aaron Russell said the 37 people chose to make the 100-mile run to the steps of the Capitol Building for the hearings instead of riding a bus.
Most of the runners were members of the track and field team, but four non-team students and one professor also participated.
Russell said he ran a 5-mile leg of the trip.
“When the crowd could
see us coming they started cheering and played Rocky music,” he said. “It was a great way to get the topic out there.”
Russell said the Lock Haven track and field team has already been impacted by the proposed budget cuts.
“We have a couple of people we’re losing from the team next year because they have to go back to the state they’re from or go to work,”
he said. “We already lost one student because they couldn’t afford it.”
SRU SGA President Jeremiah Rosser helped organize the group originally.
Rosser said after Karen Bell, vice chancellor for external relations, came to SRU Feb. 21 to speak about advocacy, President Smith asked him to compile a list of students to attend the hearings.
“That day I began to collect the names of students who were interested,” he said.
Rosser, Adam Kennerdell, SGA vice president of financial affairs; Elise Michaux, speaker of the senate; Sarah Browne, president of Global Literacy Outreach; and commuter senators Logan Miller and Jim Kramer attended the event.
Miller said he was happy
with the feedback he got from the legislators.
“They genuinely seemed to care about our opinions and concerns with the higher education budget,” he said. “They really wanted to hear our personal stories. So many of the legislators came from the state system, so they really do have our backs on this issue.”
By Courtney NickleRocket Assistant News Editor
SGA voted 13-7 at its meeting Thursday to approve up to $84,000 for the first phase of construction on a multipurpose rink, with the stipulation that a maintenance plan be submitted and approved at the next senate meeting, April 21.
The Co-Operative Activities Board had approved the money at its meeting March 31, but the Senate had to give it’s okay before the approval was official.
The multipurpose rink would be built near the current intramural fields and would be used for hockey and basketball.
SGA President Jeremiah Rosser said the amount is not definitive yet.
“It’s up to $84,000 because we’d need to get bids so we’re not sure of the price yet,” he said.
Mike Madden, the vice president of administrative affairs, said the first phase of construction would be to level, excavate and pour a concrete surface for students to play on.
“If ever ything goes according to plan, this could be used in the fall for hockey and basketball,” he said.
After the first phase is complete, other phases of the project could be implemented, including adding lights or a roof.
Many senators, including commuter senator Marcie Johnson, raised the question of who is going to pay for the
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY AARON RUSSELL
Lock Haven University students and faculty run 100 miles to Harrisburg Sunday for Advocacy Days (Mon.-Tues.) to meet with legislators to voice their concerns about Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget cuts.
Cybercrimerates on the rise at SRU
By Eric BuschRocket Staff Reporter
Cybercrime at SRU has been on the rise since social media sites have increased in popularity, according to Leigh Ann Datt, interim director of the office of student conflict resolution services.
Other universities have had similar problems in relation to cybercrime, she said.
Datt said that John Cavanaugh, Chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, requested that the state schools educate students on the topic because of the rise in cybercrime.
About 20 people attended a panel discussion on cyberbullying Thursday during common hour in the McKay Education Building auditorium. According to information distributed at the event, the term “cyberbullying” is often misused.
In order to legally be considered cyberbullying, all parties involved must be under the age of 18 or else it falls under federal and state harassment, stalking and privacy laws.
The six-person panel concentrated much of the discussion on social media, particularly Facebook.
D e p a r t m e n t o f Communication Chairperson Thomas Flynn, said modern advances in computers have given individuals a platform for mediated expression.
“We have a technology that makes us all publishers,” Flynn said.
Karla Fonner, project coordinator of the Bridge Project, said some people don’t understand the consequences of posting information online.
Fonner said the assumption is that if someone isn’t a friend on Facebook, anything posted isn’t his or her business, but this isn’t the case.
Social Media Instructor Doug Strahler said he could spend hours on the subject of privacy.
“The second you publish it online, it’s out there, it’s public,” he said.
Strahler said he spends the first week of his Social Media course speaking about online etiquette.
He said he looked at his students’ Facebook profiles at the beginning of the semester and most of them had public profiles.
“By the end of the semester, I think one student had a public profile,” he said.
According to Fonner, there is no specific policy at SRU regarding cyberbullying.
She said it’s difficult to create policies around new technology, but cyberbullying fits under different code of conduct policies.
The information Fonner put together for the event listed nine separate excerpts from the SRU code of conduct under which
By Eric BuschRocket Staff Reporter
T h e U n i v e r s i t y Curriculum Committee p a s s e d a m o t i o n unanimously Tuesday to eliminate the application process for exercise science students.
According to committee member Associate Professor of Exercise Science William Ryan, the major has become so large, the interviews are hard to coordinate.
From now on, students will have to remain in “good academic standing,” which means they have a GPA of
2.75 both in the major and overall.
The committee also changed some of the prerequisites for exercise science courses to reflect the new requirements.
All upper-level courses currently require students to be accepted in the major as a prerequisite, but this change has altered the wording to now say the student must be in good academic standing.
Students will still need to achieve a grade of C or better in a prerequisite course in order for it to
count.Ryan said students won’t
fail the class if they get a D, but they will have to repeat the course in order to progress in the major.
“We have found that those students who can’t get C’s usually have trouble at their internships,” Ryan said.
The committee also approved the creation of two new special topics courses in the English department.
L i t e r a r y P i r a t e s : A d a p t a t i o n s a n d Appropriations and Beats
and Beyond will be the first two of many special topics courses the English department would like to add.
C ommitte e memb er Jace Condravy said the department is looking to create interesting classes for students.
C ondrav y s a id t he department’s goal is to offer one of these special topics classes each semester.
The committee also discussed if these new courses should be offered
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A-2
SEE SGA, PAGE A-3
JASON ELLWANGER/THE ROCKET
Greg Sferra, director of campus recreation, explains the maintenance required for the planned multipurpose rink at the SGA meeting Thurs.
SEE SOME, PAGE A-2
Exercise science major eliminates application process
SEE ONLINE, PAGE A-3
SGA members disagree on funding multipurpose rink
as part of liberal studies, but no official stance was taken.
The school of business made a few changes to its finance minor in order to better align it with the current major.
According to business professor Dave Culp, the major was recently altered when two courses were combined to make the new International Finance Management course.
The combined courses were still listed separately for the minor, so Culp said the department wanted to perform some “house keeping” by replacing them with the new course.
Committee Chairperson Rebecca Morrice read a notice to the committee
from the department of communication regarding changes to i t s GPA requirement.
Mo r r i c e s a i d t h e department has decided to eliminate the overall GPA requirement of 2.5, but
the GPA in the major will remain the same.
The committee approved the course Computer Science 100 to be taught through distance education.
C o m p u t e r S c i e n c e Professor Paul Mullins
said the course is perfectly suited for online teaching and has become too large for the faculty to teach in a classroom.
Mullins said the course's nine sections are made up of over 400 students.
Publicize your group's event with a Rock Note.
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send your announcement by 6 p.m. Wednesday to:
News Editor Lauren Laing220 Eisenberg Classroom
BuildingSlippery Rock, PA 16057
NewsA-2 April 8, 2011
RockNotes
Index Contact usNewsroom: (724) 738-4438Advertising: (724) 738-2643 Fax: (724) 738-4896
220 Eisenberg BuildingSlippery Rock UniversitySlippery Rock, PA 16057
Pi Kappa Alpha Golf OutingPi Kappa Alpha is sponsoring a golf outing on April 30 at Oakview Golf Club. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The event fee is $75, which includes 18 holes with a cart and dinner. Registration forms can be found in the CSIL Office or at srupikes.webs.com and are due by April 15. Anyone with ques-tions can contact Corey Stebbins at 814-823-9726 or [email protected].
University Union Room ReservationsThe University Union will begin processing requests for recur-ring meetings for fall 2011 on April 1. Organizations may request meeting rooms on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or similar recur-ring pattern. Union Reservation Request Forms may be obtained at the Union Information Desk or online under Student Life. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Cole at 724-738-2718.
FAFSA Filing Help SessionRemember to file your 2011-12 Free Application for Federal Stu-dent Aid (FAFSA) before May 1st! Students who need some as-sistance can attend a FAFSA Filing Help Session on Friday, April 8 between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Room 213 of Bailey Library. SRU Financial Aid Office staff will be available to answer ques-tions and provide assistance.
5k RaceThe Adapted Physical Activity Program is holding a 5K Race April 10. Funds from the race will go to Lauren’s Work, a non-profit organization comprised of a team of young adults with develop-mental disabilities, along with volunteers who give back to others in need in their community. Registration is $10 in advance and $15 the day of the race. For more information or to sign-up contact Angela Long at [email protected]
Veterans Benefit WorkshopStudents receiving Veterans Educational Benefits should attend this informational session to learn about upcoming changes by the VA to these programs. Attendees will also learn about benefits for summer classes, required forms and general financial aid informa-tion. The workshop will be on April 12 during common hour in ATS auditorium. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Some senators question who will maintain new rink
maintenance and upkeep of the rink in the future.
“We don’t know who will maintain the rink and pay for the lights and electricity,” she said. “President Smith and the ARC have supported it, but that doesn’t mean they’ll pay for it.”
Commuter senator Katie Campbell agreed, and suggested that a maintenance plan be given at the next senate meeting.
“We don’t want to just put something there without knowing who will maintain it in the future,” she said.
If a maintenance plan is not presented by Madden and approved by the senate on April 21, the money will be taken back.
Greg Sferra, director of campus recreation, said he doesn’t think maintenance would be much of an issue, at least after just the first phase.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty
about maintaining this, but we’re talking about a slab of concrete,” he said. “We might want to seal it later or just wipe it off with a broom so people can play.”
Cathy George, SGA business manager, said the idea to build a rink has been up in the air for years.
“So many students have asked for this over the years and this is something that could be used 365 days as an outdoor play area for students,” she said. “This money was budgeted last year and wasn’t spent. It’s a one-time access to funds.”
Building E senator Matt Henderson said he didn’t think enough people would use the rink to justify the amount of funds.
“For the amount of people that will use this each year, and only in September, October, November and maybe April, I don’t think it’s a great investment,” he said.
Currently, up to $84,000
has been approved for the basic construction of the multi-purpose rink, pending a maintenance plan for the future.
S G A a l s o v o t e d unanimously to approve the SRU Campus Lions Club as a recognized organization.
According to Frank Barnes, a social work major and president of the organization, the club will be a university chapter of the international Lions Club.
“Our goal is to support the community and anyone with a disability,” he said.
Barnes said he wanted to start a branch of the Lions Club because of the impact it has had on his life.
“The Lions have been in my life for two years, ever since I became visually impaired,” he said.
All SRU students and faculty are welcome to join the club.
SGA also voted to approve NCTM-SRU (National
Council for Teachers of Mathematics-SRU) as a recognized organization.
The club will give students the opportunity to share and learn new ideas about teaching math.
Originally the club was only open to education majors, but under SGA’s policy the club must be open to all students. Once that was changed, SGA voted to approve the club.
SGA voted against recognizing the Connect Club as an organization, partially because it was going to limit the amount of students involved and also because there wasn’t a distinct purpose given for the club.
The Connect Club would have been a small Christian group where students could come and have discussions about faith and spirituality.
Matthew Cambier was also sworn in as Rhoads Hall senator.
School of business makes changes to finance minorContinued from Page A-1
Continued from Page A-1
NewsApril 8, 2011 A-3
Police BlotterMagistrate
March 23 – Jason William Maine, 35, of Hilliards, Pa., pled guilty to theft by unlawful taking. He was released on his own recognizance.
March 30 – James Traylor, 19, of McKeesport, was seen for use/possession of drug paraphernalia, sale/furnishing liquor by a minor and the purchase of an alcoholic beverage by a minor.
March 30 – Colton Ryan Powden, 20, of Camp Hill, Pa., was seen for possession of a small amount of marijuana, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. He was released on his own recognizance.
March 30 – Patsy Lousie Roccia Jr., 43, of Butler, was seen for two counts of indecent assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of children and two counts of corruption of minors.
March 30 – Curran Edward Easley, 28, of Meadville, was seen for two counts of DUI, possession of marijuana and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance.
March 30 – Vanessa Elizabeth Morrison, 20, of Slippery Rock, was seen for theft by unlawful taking. She was released on her own recognizance.
March 30 – Samantha Christie Deramo, 21, of Pittsburgh, was seen for two counts of DUI. She was released on her own recognizance.
March 30 – Kyle Graham McGreary, 20, of Beaver Falls, was seen for two counts of DUI, purchase of an alcoholic beverage by a minor and driving an unregistered vehicle. He was released on his own recognizance.
March 30 – Robert Lee Smith, 21, of West Sunbury, was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance.
March 30 – Parker Lindsey Maynard, 27, of Slippery Rock, was seen for possession of a controlled substance. She was released on her own recognizance.
April 4 – Jacob P. Martinez, 24, of Slippery Rock, was seen for two counts of DUI. He was released on his own recognizance.
April 6 – Shane Patrick Miller, 20, of Prospect, was seen for burglary, conspiracy, criminal trespassing and theft by unlawful taking. He was released on his own recognizance.
April 6 – Chad Alan Weinschenk, 33, of Butler, was seen for robbery, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and simple assault.
Borough
April 2 – Douglas David Rees was cited for DUI.
April 2 – Colton Sawyer, 20, was cited for disorderly house.
April 2 – Carey Shearer, 20, was cited for DUI.
April 2 – Jacob Ulizzi, 20, and Cody Metro, 20, were cited for disorderly house.
April 3 – Jordan J. Emrick, 20, was cited for disorderly house.
April 3 – Joshua D. Desmond, 21, was cited for public drunkenness.
Campus
March 29 – Asia Lambert, 18, was cited for harassment after a fight broke out in Building F.
March 30 – Report of harassment. An officer spoke with the individual and
advised no contact. No other action was taken by the victim’s request.
March 31 – Report of harassment in the Water Tower parking lot. The case is under investigation.
March 31 – Report theft of a cell phone at the Union. The case is under investigation.
April 1 – Theft of a permit was reported. The case is under investigation.
April 1 – Theft of jewelry from Bailey Library was reported. The case is under investigation.
April 1 – Theft from a vehicle in Founder’s Lot was reported. The case is under investigation.
April 2 – Benjamin Cunningham, 20, was cited for DUI after a traffic stop on Branchton Road.
April 2 – Officer observed property damage on Stadium
Drive. The case is under investigation.
April 2 – Jacob Brown, 18, and Patrick Scherer, 19, were cited for underage consumption of alcohol and Matthew Madey, 22, was cited for DUI after a traffic stop on North Road.
April 2 – Report of a verbal argument in Building E. The CA staff is handling the incident.
April 3 – Michael Seech, 23, was cited for DUI after a traffic stop on Kiester Road.
April 3 – Monir Hall, 19, was cited for possession after an incident in Building F March 29.
April 4 – Report theft of a permit from the Union Commuter Lot. The case is under investigation.
Compiled by Courtney Nickle
SGA to host letter sessions
Rosser said one of the things he learned was that the legislators are tired of reading form letters.
“They want the letters to be more personalized,” he said.
SGA will host letter-writing sessions beginning next week and Rosser hopes to make
those letters more personal.Sessions will be held April
14, 19 and 21 during common hour on the front patio of the Union.
A session will also be held April 11 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Union Multi Purpose Room and April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of Boozel Dining Hall.
Continued from Page A-1cyberbullying could fall.
SRU Patrol Officer Patricia Disher, said online harassment could lead to a misdemeanor or even a felony if the police need to get involved.
“If a life is threatened, you’re looking at a felony,” she said.
Disher said if someone is being harassed, it’s important to
clearly state the communication is unwanted.
She said the she has even called alleged harassers for victims to try and end any unwanted contact.
C o u n s e l i n g a n d Development Professor Jered Kolbert said it's liberating for people to post insulting information about someone
online because there is no face-to-face interaction.
Kolbert said even though he doesn’t have a Facebook profile, he has seen evidence of this on ratemyprofessor.com.
He said students will put constructive information on written evaluations, but can have harsher things to say on the site.
Fonner said new technology has led to passive aggressive conflicts through e-mail and text messaging.
“When I was (a student) here, we weren’t constantly connected,” she said.
She said even 10 years ago, it was more likely for people to settle conflicts face-to-face than it is now.
Continued from Page A-1
Online harassment can lead to misdemeanor, felony
OPINION A-4The Rocket
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If we make a substantial error, we want to correct it. If you believe an error has been made, call The Rocket newsroom at (724) 738-4438. If a correction is warranted it will be printed in the opinion section.
Volume 93, Number 23
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Eric Busch News Reporter
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Yes, and I want to donate more.
There seems to be no rest for Japan.
T h e c o u nt r y w a s hit Thursday with the strongest aftershock since the initial earthquake and tsunami March 11.
The 7.1 magnitude earthquake prompted a tsunami alert that warned of waves up to three feet and higher.
And with this most recent Mother Nature i n f l i c t i o n o n t h e island nation, we were wondering what has been done to help the people of Japan in their time of need.
When the earthquake struck Hait i , nations around the globe reached out to lend a hand to the country that was literally split apart at the seams.
Pe op l e r u s h e d t o provide al l kinds of monetary and personnel aid for the country.
Telethons were held to raise money, people
were asked to send texts to the Red Cross in order to donate money, one of SRU’s professors even traveled to Haiti to provide citizens with water filters.
SRU org an i z at i ons sponsored fundraisers and spaghetti dinners in order to help the devastated nation.
There was a great effort by SRU students to help those in need.
But we would like to know what kind of aid is being sent to help Japan?
The earthquake that struck Haiti was a 7.1 magnitude, the exact same as the aftershock that rocked Japan Thursday.
Where is this help Japan needs?
Maybe aid isn’t rushing to Japan because Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. We have this mentality that because Japan is developed and has a strong
f inancial background, perhaps it doesn’t need the assistance.
But that shouldn’t be a requirement. A c o u n t r y s h o u l d n’ t have to be qualified as underdeveloped or Third World in order for other nations to rally in support and lend a hand in the clean-up process.
We’re surprised SRU hasn’t risen to the occasion and raised money for the Red Cross to support Japan.
We’r e e v e n m o r e surprised that the United States government hasn’t pledged money to help Japan rebuild.
P r e s i d e n t B a r a c k Obama sent militar y aid directly after the earthquake struck, but no reports of finances.
Could it be because the United States has no money to give? We haven’t provided Haiti with all the money we promised
to help there. Maybe our natural disaster bank account has run dry.
Or could the reason be that Japan is currently worrying over the future of its nuclear plants and the damage caused by the March 11 earthquake? Maybe we’re too cautious to lend a hand to a country that seems on edge of exploding.
Or is it because the nuclear plants are spewing radiation that reaches the east coast of the United States?
We might be a little hesitant to help out a country that is currently poisoning our rainwater.
Maybe it’s because Japan was prepared for this kind natural disaster. The buildings are made to withstand earthquakes and the sea walls built to keep out the raging ocean.
It would take quite a disaster to tear down a countr y built with
engineer ing to def y Mother Nature.
But the 9.0 on March 11 was the Achilles’ heel of Japan. And the quake did more damage than anyone could have imagined.
When the levees broke in New Orleans, Americans felt for the victims and put forth efforts to help those stranded.
You r opi n i ons on government intervention are irrelevant for the matter at hand.
It seems to us that when it comes to helping those struck by nature, we only reach out to those that are within arms length. Haiti is our neighbor and New Orleans was our people.
But half a world away there is a country that needs help just as much as the next.
Japan is still full of people who have had their lives turned upside down.
And that should be enough to call for help.
GRAPHYC BY JASON ELLWANGER
In a completely expected and in no way surprising turn of events, President Barak Obama announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election. Despite various calls for his impeachment from some ultra-liberals and other calls for his impeachment from ultra-conservatives, Obama decided to run again in 2012.
So the Democrats have their nominee but the big question is: who will be the challenger? I’ve heard a lot of talk on this campus concerning the very subject. The conversation generally goes like this: “I’m a nameless member of the ‘angry mob’ of middle/upper class white people and, dangit, any Republican would be better than that socialist/communist/fascist we have in there now.”
I understand people are a bit upset about some of Obama’s social policies, but I have yet to see a Republican contender that reaches the mythical “Reagan caliber.” I hate to upset my Tea Partying friends, but there is no one that would beat Obama at this point. There are 20 “front runners” in the Republican Party and each one of them is practically incapable of uniting the whole party.
Mi ke Huckab e e i s probably the frontiest of the front-runners with 18% of Republican support as of mid-March. Next up, you have Mitt Romney and then Sarah Palin, each who have between 12 to15 percent support. Then the popular list gets interesting.
There are a few candidates running on sheer popular opinion (angry Tea mob types). Michele Bachman, Tim Pawlenty and Mitch Daniels and their neo-Beck/Limbaugh-ian political ideologies can surely save us from the communist
menace. Trailing well behind on the
list, we have Rick Santorum, whom we all can agree represents bi-partisanship and unity amongst a wide range of diverse people (unless you’re homosexual, Mexican, think evolution happened, or stayed during Katrina).
Finally, there is my favorite candidate Donald Trump, who is sure to ‘hire’ himself into the Oval Office and probably has enough money to do it.
I have absolutely no problem with the Republican Party and I would love to see a decent contender emerge from this group of outcasts. At this point that’s not going to happen because none of these people rouse support the way Ronald Reagan did.
Why do these candidates all kind of suck, you ask?
Though I have tried repeatedly to understand it, I still have no idea what the heck the Tea Party is, let alone what it stands for. And no one I ask can give a decent explanation. So I immediately shy away from those candidates.
Santorum and Trump…need I say more. Finally you have Huckabee, Pawlenty, Palin and Romney.
Not a single one of them has held a candle to Obama in preliminary polls. If the Republican Party wants to get back in the White House, it is going to need one person it can unite behind.
Unity, though, has largely been lacking in the Republican Party. In fact, disunity has been driving the GOP for the last two years. There are some that are pure Tea Partiers, some that are moderate fiscal conservatives and some that are social conservatives. The party has been so varied on so many issues that it is only natural there would be 20 candidates at this point.
Hopefully the GOP will be able to pull it together in time for the primaries, but until then it seems up the air. As for me, if the election was held tomorrow, I’d still vote Obama.
Opinion A-5April 8, 2011
PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS
President Barak Obama announced he will be campaigning for 2012 presidency.
Spencer Cadden is a junior secondary education major and regular contributor for The Rocket.
The Silent MajoritySpencer Cadden
Republican party needs to unite to win
Policies should change with U.S. demographicBy Michael Smerconish
The Philadelphia Inquirer
After being honorably discharged from the Army, Iraq war veteran Colby Bohannan found the college-application process to be an eye-opener. He saw many scholarships for minorities, but none for his demographic: white men. So the Texas State University student formed the Former Majority Association for Equality and is offering $500 scholarships exclusively to white male students.
“Diversity is not a bad thing,” he explained to me recently. “We’re not here to make a stand against affirmative action. Or to make a stand for affirmative action.” Bohannan noted that the GI Bill was helping him pay for college, though he added: “I don’t think everybody needs to serve in the military to afford an education.”
I don’t expect FMAE scholarships to overtake the United Negro College Fund anytime soon, but my conversation with Bohannan got me thinking about where we are headed with admissions preferences in a demographically changing world. Can the arguments for preferences based on race be sustained in a world in which whites take on minority status? It would seem that as the composition of the nation changes, those
policies will be more difficult to justify.
This issue became all the more relevant when, within a week of my conversation with Bohannan, I read two newspaper stories about the shifting demographics of two of the nation’s largest states.
In a Houston Chronicle piece detailing population changes in Texas, Steve Murdock, a former U.S. Census Bureau director and current head of the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University, said: “It’s basically over for Anglos.” Two-thirds of Texas children are non-Anglo, Murdock said. He predicted that within the next three decades there would be 516,000 fewer Anglos living in the Houston area and 2.5 million more Hispanics making their homes there.
Meanwhile, a story in the Los Angeles Times detailed the explosive growth of California’s minority population _ to the tune of a 28 percent increase in Latino residents (to 14 million total) and a 31 percent increase in the number of Asians (to 4.8 million total). Accompanying those demographic gains was the decline of non-Hispanic whites, who dropped 5.4 percent (to just under 15 million), and African-Americans, whose numbers declined almost 1 percent (to 2.2 million).
Nationwide, the Census Bureau has estimated that by 2050, whites will no longer
be the majority, raising the question of whether preferences based on race can still be justified. One expert sees change on the horizon.
“Universities have made greater efforts to take into account a family’s socioeconomic situation (first generation to go to college, household income, high SAT scores, coming from underperforming schools) as a way to mitigate charges of reverse racism as well as the realization that bright (and white) kids from modest backgrounds were pretty much not going to selective schools,” claims Charles Gallagher, the chairman of the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice at La Salle University, who has just finished a chapter for a forthcoming book that deals with this subject.
But Gallagher also believes that some trepidation on the part of whites based on their declining numbers is unsupported by the data. He points out, by way of example, the vast hold on government at all levels that whites continue to maintain. Still, efforts like Bohannan’s, Gallagher said, are not surprising in light of polling data that indicate that “we believe that we are way more nonwhite than we actually are.”
Indeed, at least one piece of research indicates that a significant percentage
o f A m e r i c a n s s e e s discrimination shifting along with the country’s demographics. A Public Religion Research Institute poll released in November found that 44 percent of Americans believe prejudice against whites is an issue on par with prejudice against current minorities.
“The reality is that whites are still a majority and if you include the Latino population that defines itself as white (50 percent of Latinos do) whites are still around 70 percent of the population,” Gallagher told me. “There is nothing racist about this view, but when you see yourself as a minority, especially in times of economic contraction, one starts to feel threatened.”
Gallagher also noted national polling data of whites suggesting a majority believe that the goals of the civil rights movement have been achieved, institutional racism is a thing of the past, and equal opportunity in terms of quality of schooling, housing, and jobs is now the norm. “If you lay this on top of an immigrant narrative most whites have about their own family’s story of struggle and success you get a narrative that says, ‘Hey, we have all moved forward, racism is a thing of the past.’ “
But will those that are today’s minority groups agree that the playing field has been sufficiently leveled? Only time will tell.
April 8, 2011
By Debbie HiltonRocket Contributor
Slippery Rock's offense was not silenced for long Friday in a doubleheader against division rival, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, at Jack Critchfield Park.
After losing the first game 9-1, Slippery Rock's offense awoke giving them a 12-2 victory in game two.
Mike Dunn, a freshman pitcher for Clarion dominated the first game, retiring the Rock in order for the first three innings.
The Golden Eagles gave Dunn a 5-0 lead before the Rock even had a man on base.
Junior outfielder Derek Carr beat out a bunt but was caught off-guard and was picked off first base on the next play.
Senior catcher-first baseman Derek DiRuscia accounted for the only Rock run when he belted a solo home run to right-center field in the bottom of the ninth.
Although SRU wished for a better outcome in the first game, senior shortstop Adam Jury credits the Clarion freshman for his stellar performance on the mound.
“I'll give their pitcher credit, he did a nice job. But we haven't hit our stride yet as a team offensively,” Jury said. “We take a couple steps forward and then another step back, we need to be more consistent
game-in and game-out.”In game two, the Rock's
offense exploded behind senior center fielder Matt Howard smacked a grand slam for 10 runs in the first inning.
Later, Jury added a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to give the Green and White a 12-0 advantage.
Slippery Rock senior lefty Zach Jeney picked up the win in game two improving his season record to 3-1. But senior right-hander George Herbert’s fell to 2-3 after he was tagged with the loss in game one.
SRU found itself facing Clarion yet again in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. This time it was not Slippery Rock's offense, but sophomore southpaw Joby Lapkowicz's dominating performance that helped the Green and White improve its overall season record 16-10.
Lapkowicz is the first Slippery Rock pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Mike Sikorski no-hit Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 2003.
“It felt real good to accomplish this because it was my first one ever and since it’s a such a hard thing to do,” Lapkowicz said. “And since I'm the last one to do it since 2003 makes this accomplishment feel greater because there has been good pitchers that came through our baseball program
just proves its a hard thing to do. There were some great plays made by the defense and our catcher called a great game which really helped make this possible.”
The Rock gave Lapkowicz all the run support he needed in the top of the third inning when the offense manufactured three runs on four hits. Carr and Howard both hit RBI singles.
The Green and White made it 4-0 when senior designated hitter Mitchell Monas singled down the line scoring DiRuscia. The Rock finished off its scoring of the day in the fifth inning with Jury's sacrifice fly and an error by Clarion to make it 7-0.
The Rock collected eight hits in Sunday's first game against Clarion but could only produce two runs.
After Clarion jumped out to a 4-1 advantage, the Rock scored it's last run of the game in the top of the seventh with doubles by Jury and Monas. Sophomore third basemen Jamison Walck also had a single.
Freshman starting pitcher Lou Trivino was tagged with the loss for SRU, his first in three games, after he gave up three runs on four hits.
SRU is scheduled to play another doubleheader at 1 p.m. today when it will host Gannon University at Jack Critchfield Park.
SPORTS B-1The Rocket
By La'Var HowellRocket Contributor
Slippery Rock women’s softball stretched its win streak to 13 games before losing a doubleheader to California University of Pennsylvania (19-7 overall, 4-0 PSAC).
The Rock committed four errors in the first game against the Vulcans in its 6-3 loss in the first
game against Cal U.All three of the Green
and White’s runs came in the second inning as junior outfielder Natalie Atkinson scored on a throwing error, followed by freshman first baseman Breanna Tongel hitting a two run blast to center field.
In the second game, SRU’s production was even fewer and farther between with only one run in the
sixth inning when senior third baseman Jordan Zeunges singled to score junior shortstop Kirsten Brant.
B efore i t s w inning streak ended at 13 games, the Rock played against Gannon University of Pennsylvania.
The win over Gannon allowed the Green and White to tie the school record of winning 11
st raight wins . Junior o u t f i e l d e r N a t a l i e Atkinson, junior second baseman Kirsten Brant, sophomore catcher Katie Saluga and sophomore third baseman Jenna Geibel were ultimately the powerhouses up at bat.
Atkinson and Brant did well for the Green and White. Atkinson hit the
By Tim DurrRocket Assistant Sports Editor
Slippery Rock women’s lacrosse won three-straight non-conference games against Seton Hill University (Pa.), Shepherd University (W.Va) and Lake Erie College of Ohio.
In the victory Tuesday over Lake Erie College, junior midfielder Casey Quinn broke the 100 goal mark for her career at SRU and joined fellow junior teammate, attacker Amy Halls, as the only two active Rock players with 100-plus goals. Halls and Quinn are two
of four total Rock lacrosse players to break the 100 goal mark in SRU history.
Quinn was ecstatic about reaching the 100 goal mark for her career and said that it was a great achievement.
“It’s really exciting to reach 100 goals,” Quinn said. “It comes with a feeling of accomplishment for sure.”
Halls added that she is glad to have a current teammate in the 100 goal club with her and hopes for more teammates to reach the mark while she is
Record 13-game winning streak ends
SEE ROCK, PAGE B-3SEE YOUTH PAGE B-4
Baseball splits doubleheader against PSAC rival, Golden Eagles
JASON ELLWANGER/THE ROCKETSenior third baseman Jordan Zeunges looks to make her way completely around the bases to score a run against Gannon University of Pennsylvania on March 25. Zeunges has 16 RBI's this season and has a batting average of .344.
NICK MCKINNEY/THE ROCKETSenior outfielder Matt Howard makes contact on a pitch against Clarion University of Pennsylvania on April 1. Howard has a .419 batting average this season and has hit four home runs.
ARCHIVED PHOTOSenior defenseman Olivia Lampenfeld wraps around the front of the net to look for a teammate to pass to in a game last season.
Women notch third consecutive victory
SportsB-2 April 8, 2011
still at SRU.“I feel honored to be in
the club with a current teammate,” Halls said. “It was a big accomplishment when I reached 100 goals in my sophomore year. I’m happy that Casey joined that club and I hope that more teammates join us in the future before I graduate.”
In the 25-9 victory, Quinn scored four goals, the second goal was the 100th of her career, Halls had another outstanding performance with seven goals and freshman midfielder Lauren Laubach added four goals to the effort.
SRU jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the first half and never looked back. The Green and White owned the first half of play and scored 18 goals to Lake Erie’s nine. The Rock took just eight shots in the second half of the game and finished with an overall 34-18 advantage in shots on goal.Prior to defeating Lake Erie College, SRU rolled through Shepherd University on Saturday at Thompson Stadium in a 20-9 victory.
The Rock was in control the entire game with a 40-17 advantage in total shots. Once again, Halls was the top scorer, this time with six goals. Quinn added three goals and
two assists to the effort and junior midfielder Katie Roof contributed three goals and an assist in the game.SRU started its three game non-conference stretch March 31 against Seton Hill University in a 15-10 road victory. Freshman goalkeeper Kat Elkins had a career-high 21 saves against Seton Hill in the victory. SRU used good goalkeeping, a 5-0 run in the first half and a 4-0 run in the second half to get the win. Halls scored three of SRU’s first six goals in the game to break open a 6-2 lead. With the score 10-5 in the second half, Roof scored two goals to spark the 4-0 run to put the game out of
reach.Quinn said that she was satisfied with the three non-conference wins and SRU now has to look to the next four conference games.
“The three non-conference wins were a nice way to get back on track after losing to Lock Haven,” Quinn said. “The next four conference games are important to win and put us in good position to make the PSAC tournament.”
SRU plays Kutztown University of Pennsylvania tomorrow at Thompson Stadium at 7 p.m. The Rock will then face Indiana University of Pennsylvania Tuesday in Indiana at 7 p.m.
By Bill KostkasRocket Sports Editor
Home co oking was definitely going on at Bill Lennox Track at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium last Saturday as it helped the Slippery Rock outdoor track team rack up 20 wins between the men’s and women’s teams.
The women earned 13 individual wins while the men totaled eight.
H e a d c o a c h J o h n Papa said the team was successful, but it wasn’t against top competition.
“The competition wasn’t stiff,” Papa said. It wasn’t re g u l ar Pe n ns y lv an i a State Athletic Conference competition. That and a lot of people didn’t compete due to the extreme cold.”
Junior Kaela Snyder led the Green and White effort on the day, recording two indiv idua l wins . One victory was in the 400-meter dash (58.54 seconds) and the other was in the 200-meter dash (26.36).
Senior Kel ly Bruder matched Snyder’s feat by also coming away with two indiv idua l wins . Bruder won the 400-meter hurdles (1:12.39) and the 100-meter hurdles (15.96 seconds).
Senior Brady Wert won the 4000-meter hurdles on the men’s side by recording a time of 1:01.11.
Papa said that Wert
having competed in the heptathlon helps in other events.
“It’s kind of a good indicator that he’s a pretty well rounded athlete,” Papa said.
Senior thrower Chris Warning continued his spectacular season by winning the discus for the second-straight meet (160 feet 1 inch).
The discus wasn’t the only throwing event the men were successful in.
S ophomore Jo s e ph Kelly and freshman Billy Martin took home the hammer throw and the shot put, respectively, with throws of 162 feet, 7 inches and 38 feet, 7 inches, respectively.
The women were right on pace in their throwing events. Junior Cassie Carrow won the hammer throw (145 feet, 7 inches), senior Kim Stitt won the shot put (39 feet, 7 inches) and senior Jade Hambrick was first in the discus (119 feet, 4 inches).
Senior Crystal Burnick won the 10,000-meter run for the second-straight meet and posted a time of 26:43.10.
Senior distance runner Jen Harpp didn'e compete in the competition
The Green and White’s next meet is tomorrow for the SRU Invitational on Bill Lennox Track at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.
Outdoor track earns21 individual victories
Continued from Page B-1
Junior midfielder scores 100th career goal at Rock
ARCHIVED PHOTOJunior midfielder Casey Quinn plays defense in a game last season. Quinn scored her 100th career goal on Tuesday against Lake Erie College of Ohio. Quinn is the fourth Rock lacrosse player in history to reach the 100-plus goal mark for SRU.
SportsApril 8, 2011 B-3
first home run of her career, which, coincidentally was a grand slam. Brant also scored four times.
Saluga and Geibel also played well. Saluga hit her first homerun of her career.
Geibel captured four RBI’s for the team with an additional home run.
A f t e r t h e G an n on game, Slippery Rock’s games against Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Salem International were tallied up as wins.
The Green and White once again showed what it
can do on offense. Adding more home runs,
RBI’s and points, Slippery Rock was able to put the mercy rule in affect by beating the Fighting Scots 12-2 in the first game.
The second game went didn't begin the way the Green and White intended it to. In the beginning of the second game, the Green and White was trailing. Senior Shanua Walker gave up three runs, one of them being a solo home run.
The Rock won 6-3 behind a Brant home run.
The Green and White’s next competition is today against Gannon in Erie at 2:30 p.m.
Continued from Page B-1
By Tim DurrRocket Assistant Sports Editor
Slippery Rock women’s rugby team competed in the 45th annual Cherry Blossom Tournament in Washington, D.C., this past weekend and went undefeated to win the tournament for the second year in a row.
The first match of pool play that SRU played Saturday was against Swarthmore College (Pa.). SRU dominated the entire game and got the shutout,
66-0. Kim Martin led the Rock in scoring with four tries.
In the second Saturday match of pool play, SRU defeated William and Mary College (Va.) by a final score of 46-7. William and Mary scored its only try of the game in the final three minutes.
The final pool play match was Sunday morning. SRU played Stony Brook University (N.Y.). The Rock defeated Stony Brook by a
final score of 22-0.After going undefeated
in the pool play section of the competition, SRU, along with four other teams, played in the playoffs of the tournament. The Green and White recorded its third shutout of the tournament, once again scoring 22 points in the victory.
In the championship match, SRU faced University of Pittsburgh and won in a low scoring contest by a final score of 12-5. SRU will take
this tournament victory and head to the 36th annual West Virginia University Chicken Tournament on April 16, the California University of Pennsylvania Cockfight Tournament April 23. SRU will host its own tournament on April 30.
The Shamrock Rugby Tournament with be played at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds . Meg han Miller is the coach of the Rock rugby team.
Pitcher Ianno namedPSAC player of week
Rugby club wins tournament
PHOTO COURTESY OF MEGHAN MILLERWomen's rugby won the 45th annual Cherry Blossom Tournament in Washington, D.C. last weekend and defeated the University of Pittsburgh to win the championship game.
JASON ELLWANGER/THE ROCKETJunior outfielder Natalie Atkinson heads back toward the fence to field a ball against Gannon University of Pennsylvania on March 25.
By Stephanie NicotraRocket Focus Editor
High school was tough for Elliot Blackburn, 19, a recent graduate of Avonworth High School and current student at the Community College of Allegheny County. Blackburn is one of the many people diagnosed every day with some degree of autism. He has Aspergers, a type of high-functioning autism.
“The fact that we are different does not mean we should be treated differently,” Blackburn said in response to a question during a panel discussion on Wednesday afternoon in the University Union’s Multi-purpose room.
Autism is something that people need to be educated about so they can understand it said Dr. Kathleen Strickland, Interim Dean of the College
of Education. People need to be aware just in case they encounter someone who is along the spectrum of autism. SRU held autism awareness events throughout the past week to promote awareness on this subject.
“To understand autism is to everyone’s benefit,” Strickland said. “Education majors aren’t the only ones who will deal with people on the spectrum.
All majors will come to encounter it. Education is the pathway to understanding.”
Six young adults or “Yams,” as Mary Limbacher affectionately nicknamed them, with some level of autism attended a panel discussion. All are participants in the Zelienople-based Parents in Toto organization,
By James MeyerRocket Contributor
The weather doesn’t always cooperate with creative student activism. Tuesday morning was cold and wet as some students went the entire day without shoes to raise awareness of children in developing countries who don’t have shoes.
S ophomore Engl ish education major Timothy Plumberg, 20, was among those who participated.
“It was uncomfortable," Plumberg said. "It was very cold and it even snowed, but it didn’t accumulate so that was good.”
In developing countries, a leading cause of disease is soil-transmitted disease that can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Walking without shoes can lead to cuts, sores and infections. Also, a lack of shoes may be what’s standing between a child and education.
“In some countries if they don’t have shoes, they can’t go to school,” Laurel Dagnon, program director for AmeriCorps at SRU, said.
One Day Without Shoes is an activist movement initiated by TOMS Shoes, a company
that donates one pair of new shoes to a child in need with every purchase. The company’s slogan is “One for one.”
Dagnon said that she was amazed to see so many students participating, going without shoes, on such a cold and rainy day.
“I sat in the Union and helped to recruit people,” Plumberg said. “I just would sit there and tell people what the cause was. I’d say I probably got about five to 10 other people to take their shoes off,”
Mike Crum, 32, a senior social work major, met Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes, when Mycoskie spoke at the University of Wisconsin. When Crum brought the One Day Without Shoes idea to SRU, several student organizations pitched in. Peace Beyond Reason held a screening of the TOMS Shoes documentary. Active Minds donated the shoes from last week’s suicide awareness event to AmeriCorps.
Crum said that AmeriCorps collected between 300 and 400 shoes, which will be donated to organizations that benefit veterans and the community.
By Stephanie NicotraRocket Focus Editor
When Mike McFeaters, 53, was racing souped-up lawnmowers at Cooper’s Lake 25 years ago, he wasn’t thinking that he would own a raceway within the following year. In 1987, McFeaters decided to open his own raceway in Slippery Rock because the one at Cooper’s Lake closed. The Slippery Rock Raceway can be found off Route 108 on Cemetery Road.
“It’s been 24 years,” McFeaters said, laughing. “It seems like a long time, but it went too fast.”
The raceway is owned and operated solely by McFeaters and offers go-
kart and tractor racing. The 2011 season is about to start officially in May.
“I started it because I wanted to keep the sport going around here,” he said. “It was either quit racing altogether or open my own place. It’s not a big moneymaker, but it’s for everyone to have fun. I just get a thrill of watching the kids grow up from racing go-karts to racing cars, from the age of five to 20. ”
McFeaters said that he usually has about 90 go-kart racers of all ages, ranging from five to 68 years old.
“We have many go-kart classes and they range in age,” he said. “The oldest is a 68-year-old who is very
competitive and wins a lot of races.”There are about 15 regular tractor
racers. McFeaters said that this was different in the 80s and 90s. There used to be 90 tractor racers and 15 go-kart racers.
McFeaters started racing tractors because it was a thrill.
“It’s kind of a guy thing,” he said. “Motors, cars, speed, the thrill of making something that you mow your grass with that should only go three mph go 50 mph and race it is why I started. There’s one tractor we have that can make it up to 60.”
Three years ago, McFeaters flipped his tractor when a wheel came off
By Andy TreeseRocket Assistant Focus Editor
When students begin their post-secondary education at colleges and universities, various opportunit ies are presented to them. Opportunities that include making new friends, joining new organizations and making the most out of one’s time in school.
As time passes by and graduation approaches all the more closely, students collectively begin to think less about the present, and more about preparing résumés, sharpening etiquette and stepping into the real world as candidates in a vast job market.
To help alleviate the headaches brought about from
this transition, the SRU School of Business hosted “School of Business Week – Stepping Stones to Success” for students throughout the week.
Beginning on Monday, students and faculty of the School of Business invited other students to attend various events meant to educate and assist students in their transition to a more-professional life.
Events held throughout the week included a résumé-building workshop, an etiquette dinner, mock interview sessions and networking sessions with SRU alumni, according to senior accounting and finance major
FOCUS C-1The Rocket
Events help students prepare for the future
SEE PREPARING, PAGE C-4
April 8, 2011
Photo CoURtESY oF MikE MCFEatERS The Slippery Rock Raceway, owned and operated by Mike McFeaters, has hosted tractor and go-kart races since for 24 years.
Success possible for autistic people
JaSoN ELLWaNGER /thE RoCkEtStudents walked around campus without shoes, despite the cold weather, to raise awareness for people who don't have shoes.
StEPhaNiE NiCotRa /thE RoCkEt(From left) Mary Limbacher, Valerie McMahon, Elliot Blackburn, and Andy Limbacher. Mary Limbacher, mother of one of the panelists and a leader in the Zelienople-based Parents in Toto organization, introduces the six panelists who have some form of autism.
SEE SRU, PAGE C-3
Students go shoeless to promote awareness
JaSoN ELLWaNGER/ thE RoCkEt Teamwork was demonstrated through a volleyball tournament for the "School of Business Week- Stepping Stones to Success."
Slippery Rock Raceway
SEE TRACTOR, PAGE C-4
Maybe it’s just me, but April seems to consistently be one of the slower months in the record industry, especially for this April.
April, at least for the most part, is a fairly bad month for
almost any artist to release an album.
What makes this situation even worse is there really is no legitimate reason as to why this is the case – aside from maybe a lazy effort to promote new albums.
But as the first releases of this month’s music made their debut Tuesday, two bands immediately broke through the conventional mold with what could possibly be two of the year’s best modern rock albums – Hollywood Undead, with “American Tragedy,” and The Kills, with “Blood Pressures.”
If you are into either, these are albums you won’t want to miss.
Hollywood Undead “American Tragedy”
With their 2008 debut, “Swan Songs,” Hollywood Undead surprised the music industry as their debut album premiered on the Billboard 200 at number 22 and sold over 21,000 copies in its first week.
As a group of six mask-donning rappers, with their catalog split between serious subject matters and sarcastic party-themed songs, they confounded critics with their fusion of rap and hard rock and quickly drew a cult following.
When the band voted clean singer, lyricist and co-founder Aron “Deuce” Erlichman out of the band due to conflicting musical interests, the tension only grew between Deuce and his former band mates when they replaced him with former American Idol contestant Daniel “Danny” Murillo.
B ecause Deuce was essentially the mastermind behind “Swan Songs,” I began to question and even doubt the band’s ability to recover from this loss.
But with the release of “American Tragedy” Tuesday, I kicked myself for having such doubts.
O p e n i n g w i t h t h e
album’s second single, “Been to Hell,” the feel and sound of the group is immediately heavier, angrier, and tighter than in “Swan Songs.”
While the song drives a heavy rhythm through each verse and chorus, Danny’s vocals cut like a glowing-hot knife through recycled plastic, with a dist inct ive-yet-suitable edge that can only be compared to Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington.
Wh at t r u l y m a ke s “A m e r i c a n Tr a g e d y ” especially worthwhile is the experimental nature of the entire album.
Debatably the most experimental of all the tracks on the album, “Bullet” is seemingly a highly-cheerful song until you listen to the lyrics.
Such an approach to a song is difficult to pull off, but the catchiness of the chorus and upbeat tempo make the song one of the best on the album, despite its very disturbing manner.
For being an album void of pleasantries and injected with stinging emotions, “American Tragedy” is a high-energy roller coaster, relentless in flow, rhythm, and attitude.
Members of the “Undead Army,” rejoice.
Ke y Tr acks : “B e en t o H e l l ,” “ B u l l e t ,” “Tendencies”
The Kills “Blood Pressures”
Every so often comes along a band who releases an album that is truly ahead of its time, all the while remaining almost completely under the radar.
Enter The Kills, an indie rock duo composed of American song writer, guitarist and singer Alison “VV” Mosshart and British guitarist, drummer and backing vocalist Jamie “Hotel” Hince, with the release of “Blood Pressures,” an album that has powerful potential to serve as a picture-perfect example of experimental rock done right.
The content of “Blood Pressures” is nothing fancy. In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite. The product is raw and unadulterated, void of modernized distortion and digitalized recording – just the way rock and roll was meant to be.
In a sense, The Kills’ “Blood Pressures” is ahead of its time because of the vintage touch gracing each song on the album’s catalog, combined with its laid-back, hypnotic feel. The combination of such characteristics forms a sound that is truly unique.
Right off the bat on “Blood Pressures,” “Future Starts Slow” sets the mood with an entrancing drum intro, and combined with the unfiltered,
muddy distortion of the guitars and the seductive vocal style of VV, the song draws you in but does not relent upon its grip.
Throughout the album, The Kills allure the listener with hypnotic rhythms and jab gently with a sharpened artistic edge.
In the album’s released single, “Satellite,” an almost-grungy guitar tone is melded with an off-beat reggae riff that prods repeatedly as the rhythm and vocals roll on at a relaxed pace, until reaching a wordless vocal refrain easily capable of delivering shivers up your spine.
While a lot of their sound can be compared to acid-rock of the 1960s and blues, The Kills’ “Blood Pressures” cannot be rightfully given one sole subgenre of rock, for it is a little bit of everything.
From beginning to end, the album remains on a gentle simmer and keeps you on your toes, making the finished product all that much more satisfying.
The beautiful thing about “Blood Pressures,” is that it can be described in so many ways. But the best way to see is for you to just buy the ticket, and to take the ride, because it’s a ride you shouldn’t miss.
Going out of state for college is a big decision. It limits you from going home on the weekends, staying in touch with old friends and getting your laundry done for free.
But mainly, it forces you to meet new people and create a different side of your life. Going out of state can end in many different ways and it all depends on who you are.
O n e o u t - o f - s t a t e student, Amy Marrotte, 18, a freshman psychology major, finds the experience exhilarating.
“I wanted a school far enough away that I would have a different experience than high school, but close enough that I could come home at will,” Marrotte said. “Slippery Rock is an hour and forty-five minutes, which is a perfect distance.”
Of course the distance changes. Hanna Brande, 18,
a freshman communication major, has a distance of five hours to Maryland.
In comparison, I have a longer amount of time to get home. It’s 10 hours all the way to Massachusetts from SRU.
Having that distance can have some advantages. For one, it makes going home and seeing family special.
“Its a perfect distance,” Marrotte said. “Its like living in two places at once. I love how I have my Ohio home with my family and my Pennsylvania home with my school and friends. Once I wasn’t consistently at home, I began to appreciate being with my family and my home life so much more.”
The distance not only creates a new appreciation for your home life, but it also makes you treasure the time you have at school. Like Marrotte said, being out-of-state can almost feel like having two separate lives. There are different norms that you live by. Different people you see every day and there is a different way of carrying yourself. The changes in, sometimes seemingly, minor details can cause a psychological distance along with a physical one. All of this is on
top of adjusting to college. Although being further
away has its advantages, it’s not perfect all the time.
“While I came to school expecting not to go home, only for special occasions and holidays, what makes it strange is seeing other people go home, especially your close friends,” Marrotte said. “The weekends are very different than weekdays.”
One way of coping with lonely weekends is to get involved. Out-of-state students have joined everything from sports teams to sororities.
“Sorority activities can take place during the week, too, but joining a sorority is a very involved extracurricular activity,” Marrotte said. “I definitely recommend it to students who can’t or don’t go home on the weekends. One, because of the activities and also because there will always be a friend or sister on campus to hang out with.”
Going out of state can force students to get involved and have a life on campus, which is nice if you need that push.
But it can also give students a new perspective.
Like any new situation, it makes people think differently and adjust to new norms. Being out-of-state is no exception to this, and in many ways it can create a new depth in someone.
"Live. Love. Jam."
Andy Treese
Two bands release great finds in slow month in industryAlbum picks of the week:“American Tragedy” and “Blood Pressure”
Andy Treese is a sophomore journalism major and the Assistant Focus Editor for The Rocket.
"Freshman Insider"Chloe Finigan
Chloe Finigan is a freshman emerging technology and multimedia major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
Going to college out of state gives students a new outlook
GRaPhiC bY JaSoN ELLWaNGER /thE RoCkEt
I wanted a school far enough away that I would have a different experience...
-Amy Marrotte, 18, a freshman psychology major and out-of-state
student
which is led by Limbacher. These six people received an education through home-schooling, cyber-schooling or public schooling. They were able to be successful regardless of their problems with autism. During the discussion, they described themselves and their struggles.
Valerie McMahon, 25, who
has Aspergers, couldn’t stop smiling during the discussion and said that she wished people would treat them normally. Adrienne Geist, 26, also wishes people wouldn’t treat those with autism differently.
“Autism does not mean oblivious,” Geist said, firmly. “We understand everything in our own way.”
Autism is often stereotyped
as being a disease or a mental illness. There are no known causes for autism and there is no cure, it’s a brain difference. This difference creates a unique personality.
According to Strickland, people with autism have heightened senses that affect their association with the environment.
“There are all kinds of levels of autism,” Strickland
said. “Some are very bright and some are able to interact socially, just like anyone. Many are very successful and become lawyers, doctors, professors, mothers and fathers.”
People with autism can often be concrete thinkers and take expressions literally according to Strickland. She used the example of “It’s raining cats and dogs.” People with autism
will have to be directly taught that this is just an expression.
Strickland’s 14-year-old grandson is autistic. She described that when an idiom is used, to tell him that it is an expression and he will understand.
Other traits include language and social differences. Some are late-speaking when young. Some autistic kids will speak very formally and without expression causing the nickname, ‘little professors.’ When young, experts will observe their play to see if they pretend. Because many autistic people are concrete thinkers, they might not pretend.
As they get older, they may have trouble reading people’s expressions and body language.
“Remember this isn’t everybody,” Strickland said. “This is not something that you can just diagnose by looking on a Web site. To get a diagnosis, an expert needs to observe and consider all the possible traits. It is very complicated because no one person is the same. We took my grandson to Children’s Hospital for a diagnosis.”
Kevin Limbacher, 28, was
diagnosed with Aspergers at the age of 21.
This is late because now kids are diagnosed at an early age, like Anthony Bucci, a senior at Seneca Valley High School. Bucci was in second grade when he was diagnosed and found out about it when he was 10.
As he explained his experience, he fidgeted slightly, but answered each question with ease.
“I’m working with an eight-year-old who has Aspergers,” Bucci said. “He has a fear of growing up so I help him with social stories.”
Social stories are written accounts of someone’s personal experiences.
Bucci uses his experiences when he was eight to mentor and help the boy cope with growing up.
More and more people are being diagnosed, according to Strickland.
So understanding autism is imperative and beneficial for everyone. But because they have a disorder does not mean they should be treated differently.
“It is a part of who they are, but it doesn’t define who they are,” Strickland said.
Focus C-3April 8, 2011
It [autism] is a part of who they are, but it doesn't define who they are.
-Dr. Kathleen Strickland, Interim Dean of the College of Education
SRU is educated about people on the autism spectrum
StEPhaNiE NiCotRa /thE RoCkEt(Front) Dr. Kathleen Strickland, Interim Dean of the College of Education, led a panel of six young adults on the autism spectrum Wednesday afternoon in the University Union's multi-purpose room. All panelists are participants in Parents of Toto.
Continued from Page C-1
FocusC-4 April 8, 2011
Tractor, go-kart races at the Rock
Cleaning up the campus
kaYLa MiLFoRd /thE RoCkEtAnnie Cavalier, freshman from Latrobe, holds up a bucket depicting her group zone during this years Campus and Community Clean Up held Saturday, April 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 18 zones were mapped out around campus and the community with members of the Green and White Society leading volunteers around.
during a race and broke and dislocated his shoulder. He stopped racing after the accident. But he’ll still ride tractors.
Racing is a dangerous sport and racers can break bones. Because of this, tractor racers have to be 16 years old with a driver’s license to compete.
“You got to remember that a tractor is only meant to go three mph,” he said, chuckling. “No seatbelts. Lots of thrills and spills.”
The Raceway follows sets of rules established by the World Karting Association (WKA) and the National Lawn Mowing Racing Association.
These associations set standards so the races will be fair. There is also a set of track rules to keep racers safe, like what type of clothing and helmets should be worn.
Each race-night, racers draw numbers to find out when they will race.
Then there are two heats and a feature. A feature is the final race that pays money to the winners. The amount of money that can be won varies. Little kids get little trophies.
“Points are accumulated throughout the season and at the end of the year we
hold a big banquet where we announce winners and do giveaways,” he said.
McFeaters said that he doesn’t know when he’ll stop.
“I guess when the fun goes away I’ll stop,” he said. “But I don’t think it’ll happen anytime soon. I still get a thrill out of it.”
Continued from Page C-1
Preparing for future career hunting
Photo CoURtESY oF MikE MCFEatERSRacing is a dangerous sport so there are track rules set for racers.
and student director for School of Business Week, Laura Ager.
Ager, 21, said some of the most important information students learned from the week was from the mock interview sessions, in which the students received helpful tips from faculty members on how to improve their interviewing skills.
“If [students] are receiving feedback at each interview they
attend, they'll be encouraged to participate and attend many interviews because each person looks at a résumé differently," Ager said. "So [the process] is kind of like taking some advice and growing from it."
She said because this year’s School of Business Week had the greatest amount of involvement from students and faculty in the department, each event held throughout the week received positive
feedback from students who attended.
The experience was for anyone who was interested because of how important it is to prepare one’s self for the job market and the real world altogether, according to Ager.
“With the real world approaching a lot faster than some may think it is, [students] definitely need to be getting the feedback and the constructive criticism at this point in their college careers,” she said.
