December 2011 Roar by Penn State Beaver

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Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2011

News

Penn State Beaver Roar

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News

‘We are not the scandal’ BRANDON PERINO Managing Editor

bjp5053@psu.edu

Despite the near-freezing temperatures, about 50 students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered near the duck pond Dec. 2 to share in a candlelight vigil honoring the victims of the Sandusky scandal. The vigil was put together by Penn State Beaver’s Student Government Association as another step in helping people get through the scandal that has rocked the university. As people lit their candles in recognition of the victims of child sexual assault, some faculty and alumni spoke of their personal connections to abuse. The vigil was Beaver campus’ response to the month-long controversy that has surrounded Penn State University and its illustrious football program – a scandal that has cost the university its president and the football team its legendary coach. The scandal broke Nov. 5 when former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged by the state Attorney General’s office with eight counts of child sexual abuse. A grand jury presentment ties the abuse back to 1998, a year before Sandusky retired. Sandusky’s charges were followed by more charges, this time of senior university officials who are believed to have lied to the grand jury and covered up the allegations to protect the reputation of Penn State and its football program. As a result, Athletic Director Tim Curly is now on leave and Vice President Gary Schultz is back in retirement. On the fifth day of the scandal, a bombshell fell when the Penn State Board of Trustees fired President Graham Spanier and Coach Joe Paterno. The sex scandal and perceived cover up has rocked the reputation of the university. Media from across the globe have descended on State College to report – often sensationally – on the story. And as if the story hasn’t been told enough on television and in newspapers, countless people have examined and debated this scandal over water coolers, across kitchen tables, and most notably in online blogs and discussion boards across the U.S. For Penn State Beaver, one of 19 branch campuses, with only 900 students located more than three hours from the main campus, being tied to this scandal has been hard for everyone connected to Beaver campus.

ROAR PHOTOS/Wendi Barnett

Students come together Dec. 1 around the duck pond for a candlelight vigil to show their support for the victims in the Penn State child abuse scandal. On the cover, a student holds a candle while listening to speakers at the vigil.

“I think it’s just personally hard for faculty, staff and students,” said Chancellor Gary Keefer. Keefer held a private meeting with faculty and staff about a week after the scandal broke to share what little he knew and to field questions. He’s also spoken to student groups, in classes and one-on-one with anyone who wants to talk about the controversy.

Keefer said he’s optimistic the controversy will have a limited effect on the campus over the long term. “We’re not going to get through this in two weeks. It’s going to go on for a year or two.” But Keefer said he believes the long-term effect for the campus’ reputation will be minimal. “Comments I was getting from local business leaders were very supportive.”

Keefer said the scandal does not reflect on the quality of a Penn State education. “Our education is the same today as it was before.” And some students have made similar statements. “We’re still the same school. We had a bump in the road, a stepping stone that we are going through,” said sophomore Darlene Coulanges. Some students fear what effect this may have on the reputation of their degrees after they graduate and enter the job market. But a (Harrisburg) Patriot-News article interviewed several corporate recruiters, all of whom said the quality of Penn State’s graduates will not be affected by the scandal and they have no plans to stop recruiting Penn State grads. Others fear the most immediate effect of the scandal could be a drop in admissions to Penn State, but the University Park administration told students at a town hall forum Nov. 30 that applications to Penn State had gone up about 4 percent compared to last year, with only eight applicants withdrawing since the scandal. Penn State Beaver has seen a drop in applications to the campus, but Director of Enrollment Daniel Pinchot attributes this decrease to the campus threat that occurred in October that closed the campus and forced him to cancel two admissions events. Whether the scandal will cost the university in students, the emotional toll it’s taken on students, faculty, staff and alumni is significant. “There’s been a lot of emotion,” said sophomore Ashley Schoedel. “There’s sadness.” Irene Wolf, senior instructor in philosophy, agreed. “It’s a sad thing right now. It’s shame you feel.” Shoedel is optimistic the university can learn from any mistakes it made. “Hopefully it shows changes that need to be made, one step at a time.” Keefer admits there is much to be learned from the scandal. “This showed the importance of ethics and doing what is right.” The vigil held at Beaver was one way to show the world that the university community cares about the victims, and that this scandal does not define them at Penn State. “We are not the scandal. We are people who care,” said Lawrence Council, president of the Student Government Association. Coulanges agreed. “We are Penn State, regardless of the scandal. I mean, ‘We Are Penn State!’”

Sexual predators look like neighbors, not creepers

PERSON IN THE BISTRO

How do you feel about Joe Paterno being fired?

TIM HARDIE

Senior Staff Writer thh112@psu.edu

“i feel bad, but it was kind of the right thing to do. Penn State isn’t taking it lightly.”

“Good. If they didn’t Penn State’s reputation would be worse.”

Maria Papageorge

Jacob Szemanski

freshman

junior

“It’s not fair. he’s been in the Penn State community for a long time.” Kaan Doruk

“It’s sad that the football team will get the brunt of it.” Liz Hain senior

freshman

For many, “sexual predator” conjures up the creepy caricature of a sick-looking, lecherous loner. According to Lavar McBride, instructor in Administration of Justice, this preconception is wrong. The predator could be a neighbor, coach, church leader or ice cream truck driver. “If I walked past him on the street,” he said, “I wouldn’t recognize him.” McBride was one of three speakers at a candlelight vigil held on campus Dec. 1. About 50 students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered around the duck pond and lit candles in a show of support for children who have been sexually abused. The event was organized by the Student Government Association. McBride said he has dealt with many legal cases involving sexual offenders over the years. Based on his experience, he said sexual predators are ordinary people caught in

Managing Editor

bjp5053@psu.edu

Kelsey Hovanec freshman

“He’s a good man, but he made wrong decisions. I love JoePa, he made Penn State a franchise.” Orent Paddy sophomore

One offender McBride dealt with described the hunger to him like this: “When you wake up in the morning, you get a bowl of cereal for breakfast. When I wake up, I have an appetite to have sex with kids.” To prevent this from happening, reporting sexual offenses immediately is critical, both for the victims and to hold the offender accountable, McBride added. “When reputations are at stake,” McBride said, “people just want it to go away.” However, if there are no consequences, the acts won’t stop. “People think, ‘Oh, he’s not going to do it anymore,’” McBride said. “What do you mean he won’t?” “You have to change the behavior,” he added. To protect yourself and others, and get treatment for predators in a timely manner, McBride said you should “follow your gut.” “When someone comes to you, it’s not your choice. Support him. Report it and let the police do an investigation,” he said.

Going from tragedy to healing BRANDON PERINO

“I feel bad because it’s JoePa.”

an unhealthy cycle that needs to be broken immediately. “When you’re talking about a sexual predator,” he said, “you’re talking about someone with a long history.” This history typically begins with the predator being a victim himself earlier in his life. This early-life experience then leads to a pattern of behavior. “A lot of people think sexual predators are highly sexually active with a bigger sex drive,” McBride said. “What happens is, with the emotions and sexual experiences, they act on their sex drives in an inappropriate manner.” McBride didn’t comment specifically on former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who has been accused of sexually molesting at least eight boys. But when looking at pedophiles, he said the behavior is a clinical diagnosis. If the cycle continues long enough, victims become simply objects to satisfy the pedophile’s hunger.

Penn State Beaver’s candlelight vigil held Nov. 30 was one of many similar events held at Penn State campuses across the commonwealth as a way of acknowledging the scandal that has rocked university and recognizing the children who were victimized. This vigil was an opportunity for the campus to show its support, said sophomore Ashley Schoedel. “It gives hope, not only hope for the victims and their families, but the entire Penn State community.” Sophomore Lawrence Council is president of the Student Govern-

ment Association that organized Beaver’s vigil. “It’s a tragedy that something like this had to happen, but it’s also a chance for the Penn State family to shine as a people and rise to the occasion.” “The response from students is really great,” said Irene Wolf, senior instructor in philosophy. Wolf was one of several faculty to attend the vigil. Wolf said the scandal has brought out the best and worst in people, and the response to it has been very emotional for some. “The anger is normal, but then the reflection is great.” Wolf said the coming together of players from both Penn State

and Nebraska football teams who came together midfield to pray before the Nov. 10 game in Happy Valley was very moving. “Everyone prayed together and I actually cried,” she said. While students on campus haven’t been too vocal about the scandal, some alumni staff members have admitted to struggling emotionally. “My job is to recruit students to Penn State,” said Director of Enrollment Daniel Pinchot. “I’ve tied my personal integrity and reputation to Penn State — they’re interwoven. So it’s been very hard for me to come to grips with what has happened. ”

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Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2011

News

Too many dances or too few dancers?

POLICE BEAT

LYDIA MOON Staff Writer

ljm5207@psu.edu

Within a span of two weeks, a mask-optional masquerade, a 12-hour dance marathon and a semi-formal Homecoming were all held in the Penn State Beaver Student Union Building Lodge. Each of the three dances was organized by a different group, had a different appeal and drew a different crowd. The Historical Society hosted the Nov. 5 Masquerade, the Thon fundraising committee sponsored the Nov. 11 Mini Dance Marathon, and the Penn State Beaver Cheerleaders hosted the Nov. 12 Homecoming dance. With three dances in eight days — including two in the same weekend — how successful can these events be?

“

I always like to try new things and am glad that some individuals are taking the initiative to come up with unique events Gina Jurich Freshman

Student Activities Coordinator Robin Schreck doubts the costeffectiveness of dances. “I don’t think they are effective at all, unless you get everything for free. The cost to do a dance most likely won’t bring in a decent amount of money to make it worth a fundraiser,” Schreck said. Not so, say the cheerleaders. “Since the cheerleaders have to fundraise all of their money, our

best bet was to have a homecoming dance again,” said sophomore cheerleader Kelsea Green, who was in charge of the dance. Schreck said she understands why student groups want to sponsor dances. “I think dances are what most students are used to, coming right out of high school. Dances are what they know, but I don’t think they realize the amount of work it can take to put it together for the amount of participation they get from the student body.” This was the first event that the Historical Society had hosted since being formed last semester. “I always like to try new things and am glad that some individuals are taking the initiative to come up with unique events,” freshman Gina Jurich. “I hope that others will begin to

appreciate that kind of creativity.” “We had about six people there and made $15,” sophomore Fabliha Anbar, Historical Society president, said. “We might do it again next year and advertise it more.” The Mini Dance Marathon was the first event the Thon committee had hosted in several years. “I enjoyed it for what it was representing more than anything,” sophomore Jim Coelho said about the Mini Dance Marathon. “We were just excited to spread Thon’s message,” said sophomore Salewa Akintilo, chair of the Thon committee. “The purpose was to give the attendees the experience of Thon weekend, a 46-hour dance marathon held at University Park (in February). Throughout the whole 12 hours, we probably had about 45 people including staff show up.

We ended up making about $80 with $50 in donations.” Last year, the cheerleaders hosted two dances, a Homecoming dance in October and the Winter Formal in December. “It was an opportunity to get away from the Hall and dress up for people that can’t go home,” sophomore Darlene Coulanges said. “I wanted to support the cheerleading team. There is a lack of enthusiasm on campus. As an RA (resident assistant), I know what it feels like to deal with apathetic students, so I wanted to help support and go.” Green said the effort paid off. “I’d consider it a success because PSU Beaver is not a big school and the majority is commuters. Roughly 60 people including staff came. We made a net profit of $243.25.”

Penn State Beaver Roar

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Former student faces trial on threats

Former Penn State Beaver student Mike Mollett of Pittsburgh, who was accused of making threats of violence via Twitter, was held for court by District Justice Tim Finn at a Nov. 4 preliminary hearing. Police accused Mollett of tweeting threats, the afternoon of Oct. 20, directed toward Penn State Beaver. The threats made reference to the Virginia Tech shootings and other violent acts. The campus closed the following day and canceled events throughout the weekend as police searched for Mollett, who turned himself in to authorities late Oct. 23 in the lobby of KDKA television. During the preliminary hearing, junior Sara Stillwell testified that

she learned about the tweets while in a philosophy class and reported them to campus police, according to the Beaver County Times. Defense attorney Frank Walker argued that the disorderly conduct and making terroristic threats charges should be dropped because the tweets did not reference the campus, The Times reported. Walker also argued that there was no evidence to show that Mollett was even near the campus when the tweets were made, according to The Times. Campus police Supervisor Ron Schwartz testified the tweets didn’t name the campus or any specific individuals, but said he had spoken with Mollett a few days earlier about a separate incident and Mol-

lett had complained, “Why you all messin’ with me?” Finn ordered Mollett held on $50,000 bond, and he remains in the Allegheny County Jail, where he is facing other unrelated charges. Mollett failed to appear for an arraignment on charges of receiving stolen property, fleeing or eluding police and traffic violations. Penn State Police have also charged Mollett with indecent assault and trespassing for a Sept. 19 incident involving a female student in Harmony Hall. Mollett waived his right to a preliminary hearing on those charges Nov. 1.

WARRANT ISSUED A warrant was issued for the arrest of sophomore Mia Smith of

McKees Rocks after she failed to report for a preliminary hearing in Beaver County Court for the second time. Campus police charged Smith with possession of marijuana after an officer found her Sept. 9 smoking outside of the museum building near Harmony Hall.

James Glantz of Pittsburgh and Martin Wokocha and Desmond Amberetu, both of Maryland. The concrete was replaced and the pavilion finished in early November. The pavilion is used mostly by Harmony Hall smokers.

VANDALISM CHARGED

Campus police charged sophomore Brian Nuckols of Pittsburgh with underage drinking. Officer Bryan Cattivera found Nuckols drunk in the Student Union Building around 11 p.m. on Nov. 12.

Seven students were charged with vandalism and disorderly conduct for writing their names in fresh cement Oct. 19 where the pavilion was being erected behind Harmony Hall. Police charged freshmen Alexander Smith and Kyle Peskowitz of Cranberry Township and sophomores Brittany Martin of Aliquippa, Scott Stawiarski of Imperial,

STUDENT DRINKING

IPAD STOLEN A student reported that his iPad2 had been stolen from the Game Room in the Student Union Building sometime on Nov. 10.

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Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2011

Viewpoint

Brandon Perino bjp5053@psu.edu

ART DIRECTOR Amy Green

aig5089@psu.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER Patrick Vaughan plv5009@psu.edu

NEWS EDITOR Donald Ware

dww5080@psu.edu

EDITORIAL EDITOR Julie Leeper

jal5624@psu.edu

COPY EDITOR Gary Miller

gwm5061@psu.edu

PAGE DESIGNERS Wendi Barnett

wkb5019@psu.edu

Josie Sziminski

jks5279@psu.edu

Dan Trzcianka

dvt5050@psu.edu

Corey Wright

cjw5372@psu.edu

ADVISERS Terrie Baumgardner tbm2@psu.edu

Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu

Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu

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Commentary

Our trust has been broken MANAGING EDITOR

Penn State Beaver Roar

The controversy surrounding the recent scandal on Penn State’s home turf seems to evolve daily. So far, the only indisputable fact is that, by our university’s apparent cover up of Jerry Sandusky’s alleged crimes, we have lost the vital element of trust in our university. The situation gains complexity when “we” is defined. We are the students, the athletes, the alumni, the professors, the administration, the taxpayers, even the public at large. Questions surface very quickly when controversy is brewing. How does the university regain our trust? What can Penn State do to support the victims? How does our institution repair its severely marred reputation? Right now, the most difficult part is that there are no definite answers. This much is certain: There is not a quick fix, and it will take a long time to heal this wound. Drastic changes in the administration seem to be grounded in promises from our new president, Rodney Erickson. Right from the start, Erickson has made five promises — one of which is for the university to be more transparent.

Promises are not enough. The university must do more than fabricate empty pledges and talk about change. It must embody these new principles and prove its commitment to rebuilding trust. In the same way, we must stand for the principles that Penn State has held for 156 years. As Penn Staters, it’s our time to take action. We must demonstrate social and personal responsibility. We must show support and respect for the victims.

We must continue to have faith in the reputation of our university. We’re in the spotlight right now, and what we say and do contributes to the reputation of Penn State, good or bad. Does this situation make our education less valuable? Are we less valuable to the world? No. It is nonsensical to believe that a Penn State education has diminished in value and quality overnight because of the action of a few men. After all, we are (still) Penn State.

It’s time to be proud of ourselves again Start with controversy and add a heaping dose of the mixed emotion from a thousand students, blend in a splash or two of alcohol, and presto: You’ve got a riot. After Penn State’s Board of Trustees fired Joe Paterno and announced it at a 10 p.m. press conference Nov. 9, the student reaction was explosive. Whether or not the board should have fired Paterno on the spot, allowed him to finish out the season or took a wait-and-see attitude isn’t the point. Nothing justifies the riot in downtown State College. It is commendable for students to stand up for a just cause. The hundreds of students who gathered peacefully in front of Paterno’s State College home showed support for their longtime coach without causing further blemish to Penn State’s reputation. But the riot in State College detract-

ed from the far more significant issues being dealt with. It focused attention on the obsession Penn Staters have with football, rather than demanding justice or respect for the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s alleged sexual abuse. And the whole world got to watch. Students need to step back and take a look at how poorly we represented Penn State by our actions. Flipping news vans, throwing rocks at police and damaging property does not reflect the moral standards that every Penn State student should embody. It’s reassuring that some students have taken it upon themselves to take positive actions. Following in the footsteps of the rioters that night was a small group of students who, in the middle of the night, walked the streets and sidewalks cleaning up the mess left behind.

Two nights later, more than 10,000 students at University Park gathered on Old Main lawn in a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the victims, and to bring awareness to all children who may have been sexually assaulted. Here at Penn State Beaver, a similar candlelight vigil Dec. 1 brought the focus once again to the victims. And students, faculty and staff have been wearing blue ribbons in a show of support for child abuse victims. The vigils, the blue ribbons, even the students cleaning up after the rioters — these are the ideals that Penn State stands for. Let us not fall prey to the mob mentality that so poorly was reflected in the riot. Instead, let our words and actions show the true character of Penn Staters. And please, let us all be proud Penn Staters once again.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Roar is published several times each semester. Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: roar-editor@ psu.edu by the 20th day of each month. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published.

FREE ADS FOR CLUBS Because The Roar receives funding from the Student Activity Fee, free advertising space is offered to any universityrecognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one advertisement, one-eighth of a page in size, per organization or club per month. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: roarbusiness@psu. edu by the 20th of each month.

Finding your identity lies in knowing your strengths I remember hesitating and even mumbling whenever I was asked, “What is your goal?” Mostly, I said, “I don’t know.” I knew my goal when I was asked this question. I always wanted to be a clinical psychologist, a famous essayist, and a painter. I had a clear answer inside. But, why did I hesitate in answering this one simple line? As I type this article, I am getting a glimpse of an idea. I was afraid of facing my strengths as much as facing my weakness. Maybe even more. I was afraid of being deeply immersed in something; I felt it was like a gamble or rolling the dice. People avoid their weakness because it gives them a hard time; but, they also avoid their strengths because they are afraid of pushing themselves into their goals. As they avoid their strengths, they widen the gap between where they are and where they want to be. And this gap is what makes them anxious. Why do you think people are looking for

in my own words

KYUNG MIN KIM

do; they just don’t want to face their goals. They are afraid of going forward. Even for me, I might like to live in a cage as a bird. I would just stay there, waiting for someone to feed me. People do not want to leave this comfort. But, the comfort often-

times is what really destroys us. “What is your dream?” seems to be a tougher question than, “What is your worst weakness?” Kyung Min Kim is a columnist for The Roar. He can be reached at kik5129@psu.edu.

65926_65926 4/27/10 4:46 PM Page 1

entertaining activities, like shopping, playing computer games, internet surfing and so on? It is because they are directionless, struggling in the gap they have made. They are hesitating in making decisions about where to put their first steps. Once we make our first steps, we find a map to follow. Life without a map is anxious; it is pointless, wavering, and hopeless. Always, the first step matters. But once we make the first step, the second and third steps are easier to manage. People say they don’t know what to do with their lives. But I have to offend them and say that they know what they want to

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Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2011

Penn State Beaver Roar

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Features

Students hold onto their faith

‘Happy Feet Two’ lacks musical edge

TIM HARDIE

Senior Staff Writer thh112@psu.edu

It was noon Friday late in the spring semester, and a handful of students sat in a room in the Student Union Building. Between CRU and the campus’ Catholic ministry, a strong community of Christians exists here at Penn State Beaver. For sophomore Wesley Mummert, the vice president of CRU, this faith community provides a guard against personal issues that otherwise could take his focus off his academics. For his first semester at Penn State, he was not involved at all, but in a short time he has become heavily involved. “I’m just excited to get “back to worship,” he said. Sophomore Shawn Luis is involved in both campus ministries because of the encouragement he receives from the community. “It’s keeping up with my faith,” he said.“The clubs are a gateway to people with the same faith. When you’re in a group like CRU, it really helps you to nurture and grow in your walk with God.” Sophomore Ashley Schoedel agreed. “My main reason for joining

THE ROAR/Daniel Pinchot

Instructor Judy Berasi, right, serves as a reader at a Catholic Mass held on campus in October as the Rev. Tom Kredel, left, prays. Faith is an important part of life for many college students. Catholic Campus Minister Gary Slifkey, far left, has begun offering Mass once a month to reach out to Catholic students.

CRU was to find people with the same overall moral values, putting myself into that good environment,” she said. The Christian community especially helped her when she was a new student, and when her great grandfather passed away. “It gave me a support system with someone else to pour my emotions and thoughts on,” she said. Luis said it is good to be able to count on the support from others.

“Even though it’s a small group,” Luis added, “you still have that support system.” This focus is important to students because of what they see going on among their peers. “I see a lot of what shouldn’t be going on in the dorms,” said Mummert. Seeing the activities his friends get caught up in encourages him to keep up the faith. Even so, watching the lives of those outside of this community

can be frustrating. Michael Hay, the faculty adviser for Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) intentionally keeps an door open “so people know they’re invited,” but this also invites awkward eye contact with passersby. “I always wonder if they’re looking to join or to make fun,” Mummert said. At the weekly Catholic Bible study, campus Catholic minister Gary Slifkey typically closes the door.

CRU’s literal open door initially made Luis uncomfortable, but “when you get into the worship,” he said, “you don’t really care.” In spite of the open doors, some students on campus are completely unaware of the faith-based communities and ministries available. Sophomore Amanda Schiffner said, “I didn’t know there was a club. I’ve never seen a sign for it.” Schoedel thinks the uncertainty is what drives some students away. “Faith is something you have to get your own way,” she said. Hay also acknowledged the personal nature of faith. “I can’t make someone believe,” he said. “I can only share my own testimony.” Even with this desire for a strong religious community, attending a Christian college instead of this public university was never a serious consideration for some. “You don’t have to choose a Christian school. The choice in what school I go to has nothing to do with my faith, “but my actions there do,” Schoedel said. “Wherever you go, your faith goes with you.” Editor’s Note: This article was written during the spring 2011 semester as the final project for Communications 260W.

ALLISON REED Roar Movie Critic

arr5308@psu.edu

What could possibly be cuter than a fluffy baby penguin trying to find his place in the world? Perhaps baby walruses with British accents or two inseparable krill. “Happy Feet Two” returns to the melting ice of Antarctica, home of the great Emperor penguins. A bundle of new characters and adventures are introduced while the film stays true to the musical theme presented in the first film. In this beautifully animated sequel, a gigantic glacier breaks away and heads toward the penguins’ homeland — an event that’s sure to unite several different species in an effort to survive. While trying to avoid a potentially cataclysmic event, Mumble (Elijah Wood), an outsider himself as a child, must help his young son Erik (Ava Acres) discover his own voice. Although stumbling along the way, Mumble remains a hero

TIMOTHY HARDIE Senior Staff Writer

thh112@psu.edu

When thinking about people of faith at Penn State Beaver, it’s natural to think of the Christian faith. However, Christianity is not the only religion actively practiced on campus. Talha Harcar, associate professor of Business Administration, is a devout Muslim. “I believe that there’s a life after this,” he said, “and I believe this life prepares us for the next one.”

“It’s the most important part of my life,” added Harcar, a native of Turkey. A major part of this is the belief that we will be rewarded or punished for how we lived. “If something good happens, I’m glad. But it’s not important compared to the next life,” he said.“Also, if something bad happens, it’s not important. You take it normal.” This carries over into Harcar’s unrelenting work ethic. “There are two main celebrations for Muslims,

but they may sometimes conflict with my work,” he said. While Harcar could probably take those days off and reschedule on account of his beliefs, he chooses not to. “I try to do my best job because they pay me to do it,” he said. “I need to do my best to deserve my wages with the best work I can offer.” This passionate pursuit of ethics stems not only from preparation for the afterlife but also from a desire to appropriately represent

Islam to those on campus. “I’d like to be a good model of my faith,” he said. “People don’t know Islam in this country, and most is what they see in the media.” He added, “I may be the only Muslim some of them see.” Being in the minority doesn’t create any tension at Penn State, though. Michael Hay, the Faculty Adviser for Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), has invited Harcar and his wife over for dinner a couple times.

Hay especially recalls the first time they ate together because of a silly little food issue that arose. “I don’t think my wife was aware of their dietary habits,” he said. At these dinners, Harcar and Hay have discussed the many similarities and differences between their beliefs. “I think dialogue between different faiths is very important,” Harcar said. “The key is dialogue and respect.”

‘Happy Feet Two’ n 3 out of 5 stars n Starring: (voices) Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt n Director: George Miller n Rated: PG

because of his desire to help those closest to him. Though the sub-story of Will

the Krill (Brad Pitt) and Bill the Krill (Matt Damon) is extremely disconnected from the main story, it’s a fabulous mini-story deserving of its own attention. Will determines there must be more to life and ventures beyond the edges of the Krill cloud. His own journey of self-realization begins with his best friend in tow.

Discovering that the Krill are meant for nothing but food, Will challenges that notion and tries to work his way up the food chain. “Happy Feet Two” is by far the most beautifully animated film of the year. Nearly everything from a musical number about catching hundreds of fish to a drastic attempt to save a walrus seems amazingly like

Students plan to work with the Navajo Nation ANDREW DIPIETRANTONIO Senior Staff Writer

ahd5039@psu.edu

“The key to different faiths is dialogue and respect”

Warner Bros. Pictures

an action sequence. Director George Miller incorporates striking composition and magnificent sound through the animation to push the film’s storyline with an energy comparable to 2010’s “Rio.” While the first film’s deep connection to music burst through its storyline, that soulful connection to music seems to have disappeared in this installment. Though a few of the songs deliver messages pertinent to the storyline, the overall lack of music throughout much of the film shows the narrative’s focus on other matters. While it fumbles at moments, the film’s success lies in its ability to deliver ultimate messages of determination and self-realization. Hilarious yet heart touching, the movie appeals to viewers of all ages. The film’s ambition and wellintended objectives offers a pleasant moment of fun and relaxation for the whole family.

Students enrolled in the Civic and Community Engagement class next spring will have an opportunity to travel to Arizona during spring break. “This is a great adventure which Dr. (JoAnn) Chirico and (activities coordinator) Robin Schreck hope others pursue,” said Irene Wolf, senior instructor in philosophy and one of the trip’s organizers. On the trip, students will live and work with the Navajo Nation near Tuba City, Ariz. Wolf said the benefit of the trip is that students will engage with people from a very different and unique culture. “The students will be doing community service at the elementary school on the reservation. They

will be assisting the teachers with classroom teaching and activities, mainly tutoring and mentoring these young children,” Wolf said. Students will be learning how to make jewelry, listening to Navajo stories and songs and also taking trips and visiting the Navajo Monument and Museum. “During our evenings on the reservations, we will spend time eating their traditional foods and being immersed in their culture with families on the reservation,” Wolf added. In the past, spring break class trips have always taken student abroad. This is the first time a Penn State Beaver class trip will stay in the U.S. The Navajo Nation consists of 27,000 square miles in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Geographically, it is the largest Native Amer-

ican reservation in the U.S. The Navajo Nation claims about 298,000 enrolled members and is the second-largest tribe in population. More than 173,000 Navajos live on the reservation. Most homes do not have electricity, running water or telephones. The Navajo Nation has no urban centers and most roads remained unpaved. Freshmen Rachel Hido is one of the students who signed up for the trip. “I have been interested in this trip since my FTCAP in the summer. I am so excited,” said Hido. “I’m interested to see and experience the Navajo culture and I get four credits now.” To go on the trip, students must be signed up for Civic and Community Engagement 211, a 3-cred-

it class. Participants will also earn one credit of either Sociology 296 or Philosophy 296. The trip is organized through the global service learning organization AMIZADE. According to the group’s website, Amizade, the Portuguese word for friendship, was set up as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism, providing community service, encouraging collaboration and improving cultural awareness in locations throughout the world. The student of course will not be going alone. Schreck, the trip coordinator, will join Wolf and Chirico, senior instructor in sociology. “This is the first time that I have done something like this [as the coordinator],” Schreck said. “I have gone on trips over spring break when I was a student. Hopefully

the trip works out and is a good experience, so future trips can be taken.” “I see this personally as a great adventure and opportunity of growth and learning. I personally am very fascinated with the philosophy of the Native Americans and hope to meet some wise Navajos and discuss their philosophies,” said Wolf. The cost of the trip for students is $715. “The school has offered some funding through academic affairs and it has made the trip cost 50% less,” Schreck said. Honors student may be able to get additional support to defray the cost, Schreck said. “This is an opportunity to earn a minor degree in civic engagement and to take a unique trip to Arizona during the spring term break.” said Wolf.

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Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2011

Sports

Men rebound from slow start

Young Lady Lions team off to a strong start ANDREW DIPIETRANTONIO

‘Playing hard’ remains key, coach says FROM STAFF REPORTS Men’s basketball Coach Marcess Williams said his team is better than its 4-2 record may indicate. “We’re ‘right there’ in every game,” Williams said, referring to close scores in both their losses. Beaver lost Nov. 16 to LaRoche College 72-71 and Nov. 30 to Penn State Beaver DuBois 62-59. So what is it going to take to turn the 2011 Penn State University Athletic Conference team around? “Playing hard — like we’ve been doing the majority of the time,” Williams said. “I think we have formula, but they have to practice harder and be more committed.” A 77-52 win over Penn State WorthingtonScanton Dec. 2 was a big step in the right direction. In the game, senior Darius Prince recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 points. Sophomore Chris Weathers led with 14 points followed by senior Tony Houghton with 11. The win over Worthington-Scranton comes in sharp contrast to the conference-opening loss to rival DuBois just two days earlier. Beaver played hard at the start and was on top with two three pointers from junior Nick Miller, giving Beaver a 10-6 lead. Beaver controlled the game most of the first half, ending with a fivepoint lead. But DuBois took control in the second half, leading Beaver by as many as seven points. With less than two minutes to play, Beaver came to within five points. Late fouls kept DuBois with the lead, but with less than a min-

ute to play, Miller drew a foul on a layup sending him to the free throw line for a three-point opportunity. But he missed the free throw, and Beaver fell short at the buzzer. Miller led all scorers with 18 points followed by Prince with 10. Sophomore Quentin Burton led the team with five rebounds followed by Weathers with four. Prince also led with four steals. Over the Thanksgiving break Nov. 22, Beaver beat cross-town rival Geneva College at home 89-82. Beaver had a slow start through much of the first half, ending the half with a six-point deficit. Beaver’s only first-half lead came when Houghton hit a three-point shot with a little more than six minutes to play. But Beaver came out of the locker room determined in the second half. Freshman Robert Agurs and Miller started the half with a 5-2 run, followed by a layup plus a foul shot from Prince to tie the game. Back-toback points from Prince and Hougton gave Beaver its first lead of the half, and a three point shot from Burton later extended that lead to 10 points. Geneva responded with a 10-point run, tying the game at 65 with less than 10 minutes. Geneva took the lead briefly at 67-65, but a three-point shot from Hougton shifted the lead back to Beaver, who never trailed the rest of the game. Prince led with 20 points and five rebounds, followed by Houghton with 13 points and Miller and Agurs with 11 points each. Sophomore Alexis Shelton of the Penn State Beaver Athletic Department contributed to this report.

Senior Staff Writer

ahd5039@psu.edu

New coach, same results. The transition to new Coach Tim Moore seems to be no problem for the Penn State Beaver women’s basketball team. Even though they are a young team, they are still winning, and their 4-1 record proves it. In fact, the team is very young. Beaver dresses two juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen, with not a senior in the line-up. Beaver’s most recent victory came at home Dec. 2 with a 63-39 win over Penn State WorthingtonScranton. Junior Brooke Mulneix led with 21 points, followed by freshman Amanda Temple with 10. Both tied for most rebounds with 8 each. Two days earlier, the Lady Lions kicked off the Penn State University Athletic Conference season with a win over Penn State DuBois Nov. 30. Despite a 5-0 DuBois lead out of the gate, Beaver picked up momentum and ended the half with a 7-point lead.

The ROAR / Josie Sziminski

Corey Wright, 12, shoots a lay up against Penn State DuBois, helped by teammates Chris Weathers, 21, and Tony Houghton, 24.

The team started the second half with three consecutive 3-point shots from juniors Brooke Mulneix and Brittany Tomaselli. Despite a late surge from DuBois, Beaver hung on for a 92-84 win. Mulneix and freshman Amanda Temple led with 24 points each, followed by sophomores Kalynn Hill with 11 and Coleen Mead with 10. During the Thanksgiving break, the Lady Lions edged out a 3-point win against cross-town rival Geneva College in the first home game of the season. Beaver jumped out to an early 12-0 lead, and then Geneva came back with 9 points of their own. Beaver had the lead for most of the first half with 8 points each from Mead and Mulneix. Geneva took the lead with 27-25, but it was answered quickly by a 3-pointer from Mead. With 16 seconds left, Geneva took a 29-28 half time lead with two free throws. Beaver trailed for most of the second half. Geneva’s biggest lead was 10 at 49-39. However, Beaver came storming

Staff Writer

rpt124@psu.edu

Penn State Beaver wrestling Coach Jeff Winkle has high hopes for the team’s inaugural season, but so far injuries have plagued the team early in the season. The team opened the season at Washington and Jefferson College on Nov. 12, where five wrestlers took the mat.

With tough competition from different schools, Penn State Beaver won just one match in the 285pound division. Sophomore Wessley Mummert won 5-4 over Gabe Zimmerly of Manchester College. Matches were lost by sophomores Dylan Winkle and Tairo Maas, freshman Bob Tempalski, and junior Kevin Rice. On Nov. 16, the wrestlers trav-

eled to Penn State DuBois to compete in the first match of the PSUAC season. Due to injuries, the team could only fill four of the 11 weight classes. Another big win by Mummert gives him the most wins on the team. Maas lost a hard-fought match, only trailing by 1 late. Coach Winkle has the team signed up for other tournaments

this year and hopes to have a 10-man roster once the Beaver wrestlers have time to heal. “The team is starting out as expected with the new program being offered for the first time at Penn State Beaver,” Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said. “I am excited about Mummert, as he is showing strength and quickness on the mat.”

Winkle will start to comb the area for new and useful talent in the recruitment process as well. With his background and knowledge, the team is optimistic that Winkle will bring in new and useful talent as the program moves forward. Next the wrestlers will travel to Penn State Greater Allegheny for a 7 p.m. match Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Page 11

The ROAR / Wendi Barnett

Brooke Mulneix splits Penn State DuBois defenders as she shoots.

Fightin’ Beavs undaunted by season’s challenges JENNIFER FANNIN Staff Writer

Wrestling team fights against injuries in its first season BOB TIRAK

back and finished the game on an 18-5 run. The comeback was aided by the great shooting of Temple, who had 12 of the 18 final points, 8 from the free-throw line. Beaver took the lead 52-51 and held on to win 57-54. Temple finished the night with 17 points and 8 rebounds, and Mulneix had 16 points and 4 rebounds. After the game Moore was all smiles. “It’s a wonderful feeling to get that first home victory,” said Moore. “The girls did what they had to do to get the win.” Even so, “we have a lot of work to do,” Moore said. “We are a young and inexperienced team, and we can only get better from here.” Not only was Moore smiling, but so were all the players after the game. “I’m pretty excited. It feels great to get that first home victory,” Mulneix said. “I felt like we played good together, but we are young and have a lot to work on.” “As we grow as a team we can only get better,” said Mulneix. “We should get through our conference fairly easy.”

Penn State Beaver Roar

jmf471@psu.edu

The ROAR / Dan Trzcianka

Taylor Pauls holds his position at center ice as the Fightin’ Beavs face Slippery Rock University White.

Even though the team has made a comeback from zero wins, the Penn State Beaver Fightin’ Beavs still cannot manage to pull an above-500 record. The team, 2-3, lost its most recent game Nov. 30 against Slippery Rock University’s White team, 4-3. The Fightin’ Beavs defeated Geneva College 8-4 on Nov. 10 and beat Grove City College 13-1 Nov. 3. “We had a rough start at the beginning, but once we got going, we really got into it,” said Coach Steve Turyan. “We have really good teamwork going on in this season now

and I expect the rest of the season to go more smoothly.” Turyan said he does not see any apparent weaknesses, but some strengths of the team include everyone helping each other and the team working together as one. Alumni goalie Justin Vorbach agreed. “The more we play together, the better we get,” Vorbach said. “We’ve made major improvements over the last few games and I’m excited to see what were capable of. Without a doubt I would say we are one of the better teams this year, despite our record.” Junior centerman Dan Vish said the win against Geneva was a turnaround for the team. “We were sloppy in our own end at times,

but overall we played a sound game and got the win on Nov. 10. Even when we lost our last game on Nov. 30, we just couldn’t seem to score that much but played enough to win.” Junior defenseman Jacob Szemanski, team captain, had his first hat trick of the season against Geneva. A hat trick is three goals in a single game. “The hat trick was great and the team is playing well together,” said Szemanski. The team lost its first two games to the Community College of Allegheny County and Carnegie Mellon University. The team is in a three-way tie for sixth place in the conference.

Page 12

Penn State Beaver Roar

December 2011

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE? Are you a college junior or senior? Are you in athletics, an education or psychology major? Do you need to participate in community service? Do you just want to make a difference? Do you have 3-10 hours a month to help someone be successful ? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then you might be a perfect fit for our Independent Living Mentoring Program. This program matches college juniors and seniors to Beaver County high school juniors and seniors who are in foster care to help them stay “on track” academically, provide college resources (such as financial aid info, college tours and academic offerings) and mostly as a stable force in their lives. For more information, contact Christina Sheleheda, Independent Living Mentoring Program Manager, at (724) 630-8492 or at csheleheda@communityalt.org Suite #300, Stone Point Landing 500 Market Street W. Bridgewater, PA. 15009 Phone: 724-728-0535 Fax: 724-728-1605