January/February 2016
Volume 55 Issue 1
what’s in
Be a Leader, Be a Friend, Be of Service
THIS ISSUE
The Profile of a New Age Explorer
Alpha Phi Omega members had fun apple picking during the October 10, 2015 Day of Service.
Way into Alvernia History
Men’s Volleyball Coming Soon
Snow Cancellations
president of APO. She helped start this service fraternity at Alvernia as a first year student. She began in APO as a mentor for the new recruits during her first year, then became a pledge educator before becoming vice president of leadership. Reed has helped the organization grow into what it is today, a selfless group of students dedicating their time to service in order to better the campus, community and nation. “At first, the students wanted to start their own club based on service,” Jessica Umbenhauer said.
Alpha Phi Omega (APO) is a co-educational fraternity. It is Alvernia’s first and only fraternity, and is dedicated to service. APO intends to positively influence their community, the campus and the nation. APO is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters on over 350 campuses. APO reached Alvernia in the summer of 2013 with the help of Kevin Shainline and Kaila Druetto. Emily Reed, junior social work major, is the current
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New Production, New Roles
Snow Patrol at your Service By Amber Nikolaus Managing Editor Teamwork from students valiantly opposed Winter Storm Jonas’ dangerous snow. Alvernia students rose to the challenge to help our neighbors deal with the severe weather through its Snow Patrol. While Alvernia’s campus had a dedicated facilities crew to help dig out parking lots and sidewalks, city residents often have to dig out on their own. Houses around the campus were stuck with slippery streets and long driveways with barely any way of getting out. Commuter Josh Harmes said he couldn’t even get out of his driveway because his street was not plowed. Alvernia decided to do something about the needs in its community. The Student Government Association’s Good Neighbors committee regularly reaches out to the neighbors around the Alvernia campus. Developed around five years ago by the Student Governent Association; the committee works with Dr.
Joseph Cicala, Vice President for University Life and Dean of Students, in order to stay in contact with community members to welcome them into the Alvernia community. “It is a way to create a better sense of community among the neighbors and students,” Dr. Cicala said. One way the committee helps people in our neighborhood is through the Snow Patrol. The Snow Patrol volunteers shovel driveways and sidewalks for neighbors that ask for assistance. Josh Harmes contacted the
By Mady Johnston Contributing Writer
list of neighbors the morning after the snow in order to get the Snow Patrol members underway. Even though he couldn’t leave his house he took part in trying to continually help the neighbors just by contacting them to reassure Alvernia would be there to help them. About ten SGA members went out on the cold Sunday morning after the blizzard. The neighbors supplied the students with shovels. While there were only three houses that ask for help, it was still hard work due to
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Photo courtesy of Gab Messina
Cooper Scores
Photo courtesy of The Holleran Center
By Genesis Ciriaco Editor
First year Brett VanderMeyde took his time on a Sunday morning to help Alvernia’s neighbors.
On February 1 and 2, the Alvernia Theatre Club (“Pacelli’s Orphans”) held auditions for their Spring production of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. A Streetcar Named Desire follows the story of Blanche, who moves to New Orleans from Mississippi to live with her sister and brother-in-law after losing their family home. “Blanche basically loses herself and ends up going insane,” Chiara Marone, junior theater major, said. “The story goes through the stages of [Blanche’s] life and how different things are affecting her.” A Streetcar Named Desire was one of many options for a Spring theatre production. Dr. Nathan Thomas, the Alvernia Theatre program director, had pitched the idea before winter break, and Marone, and senior Theatre majors Chris Stewart and Taylor Wesley pushed for it. “Over winter break, Chris, Taylor and myself worked with Dean Roth (Dean of
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campus news
2 January/February 2016
THE ALVERNIAN STAFF Managing Editor Amber Nikolaus Layout Amber Nikolaus Section Editors La’Key Brathwaite Genesis Ciriaco Kaneeayl Davis Monica Echeverri Kyle Grim Keith Noonan Brian O’Shaughnessy Macy Storm Contributing Writers Matt Baer Carmen Gonzalez Justin Herforth Mady Johnston Theodore Rogers Dale Saylor Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange
The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University. To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.
Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.
The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.
© 2016 The Alvernian
Vol. 55 Issue 1
Flynn Files: January 2016 In the last edition of Flynn Files (December 2015), I shared reflections on both the importance of interfaith dialogue to me personally and the significance of our new “Prayer and Reflection Room” for our university community. For this first column of 2016, I have invited many of those most involved in creating this special space to share their reflections. Students played a central role in advocating for this project and emphasizing its importance. Our chaplaincy team and religious representatives from the local community provided helpful suggestions for the room’s layout. The team of Kelly Caddy (Campus Ministry), Jay Worrall (Holleran Center), and Sr. Roberta McKelvie (Mission) led the planning effort, with wonderful support from Sharon Neal (Library). And two families of trustees (Elsayed and Catherine Elmarzouky & Michael and Susan Fromm--who have strongly supported previous interfaith efforts--stepped up to fund the effort. What a wonderful gesture for them to sponsor this project jointly. On behalf of the entire university community, many thanks to the Elmarzouky and Fromm families and to all involved in launching this effort. Here are their reflections: Kevin Shainline, Class of 2014 (FROMM SCHOLAR, 2014-2015) As an alumnus, I feel this room makes a powerful statement of inclusion for current and future members of the Alvernia community. It provides a safe environment for everyone to pray, reflect, or learn about different faith traditions. It shows that interfaith work is, and will be, a focus of the University, so that all members can explore their own spirituality. Mackenzie Bartlett, Class of 2017 (FROMM SCHOLAR, 2015-2016) The Interfaith Room provides all students, staff, and faculty a place where self-reflection and prayer is promoted. As an active college student, I am constantly on the go. To have a location on campus where I can put my stress and worries on the table and reflect and pray to God is a beautiful advantage that the University has given me.
Jay Worrall, Director, Holleran Center of Community Engagement (HCCE) Besides its use by students, this room will advance the Holleran Center’s relationship with “A Common Heart” (ACH), a group spearheaded by three local spiritual leaders--our own Sayed Elmarzouky (Islamic Center), Rabbi Brian Michelson (Temple Oheb Sholom), and Fr. Phil Rodgers (St. Benedict Church). We look forward to using this space to facilitate campus and community learning about the value of Interfaith understanding, both as essential to our own spiritual journeys and to foster religious inclusion in our community. Sr. Roberta McKelvie, Assistant to the President for Mission This space fosters the spiritual development of our students and provides space where they can delve into an understanding of who God is for them, and who God is for people of other faith traditions. The creation of this special space is a visible expression of our Mission because Alvernia’s Franciscan heritage is rooted in an intellectual tradition that recognizes and values the importance of diversity of thought, faiths, and cultures. Fr. Ron Bowman, Catholic Chaplain Our new interfaith room provides a venue for an actual interpretation of the ideals expressed in the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate (28 October 1965). This dedicated “Holy Ground” is a fitting expression of Alvernia’s interfaith cooperation. Rev. Marsha Anderson, Ecumenical Chaplain The new Prayer and Reflection Room is a profound gesture to people of every faith, showing there is a place for them at the heart of Alvernia. It is significant that this place for all to pray, meditate, and reflect is located in Franco Library - the center of academic life. I believe that the positive impact of the personal reflection and communal conversation that will take place there will be felt in the University and in the community at large. Rubina Tareen, Interfaith Chaplain This room is a physical manifestation of the Fran-
Alvernia University President, Dr. Thomas Flynn.
ciscan tradition of “knowledge joined with love” and also showcases a traditional Islamic concept of intertwining knowledge and faith, being that is in a library. The Prophet Mohammed said that the most learned of mankind is the one who gathers knowledge from others. That is exactly what this space will promote. Kelly Caddy, Director of Campus Ministry For our students, the Prayer and Reflection Room is a calming, welcoming space for persons of all traditions and for those with no particular faith tradition. One student sees the room as a “common ground”-where she, a Christian Catholic, can sit with non-Christian and “spiritual but not religious” friends and have a deep conversation about who is God, why people believe in God, and how we even know there is a God--which naturally leads to the question of how do I know what God is calling me to do. It is a reminder that all students are asking the same questions, not just those who actively seek guidance in their spiritual quest. It is also an important connection to the “enduring questions” that are presented to students in their first year seminar courses, connecting
a visible space to academic study. And finally, it simply provides a place where a soul can take a breath and rest, to let life settle in, breathe into it, and go forth refreshed. Mike and Susan Fromm, Elsayed and Catherine Elmarzouky, and Their Families Both of our families have experienced religious intolerance, and have responded by dedicating ourselves to building connections among people of all backgrounds. The establishment of an interfaith Prayer and Reflection Room is consistent with Alvernia’s aim to foster an atmosphere of tolerance and respect on its campus and within the larger community. Moreover, having worked closely with the Administration and Campus Ministry on this project, we know that locating the interfaith space in the Franco Library represents a thoughtful, intentional decision to centralize activities of coexistence - both physically and symbolically. We hope this room serves not only as a place of reflection for people of all faiths, but also as a reminder of how connected we all are to one another. To all of the above, I add a simple, Amen. Peace and all Good, Tom Flynn
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Be a Leader, Be a Friend, Be of Service (Continued pg. 1) Umbenhauer is both the club’s advisor and assistant director of the Holleran Center. “Once they started the process they discovered the national organization, Alpha Phi Omega.” Shainline and Druetto began the process of getting approval by recruiting members. They then needed to win approval by Student Activities, create bylaws, and fill out a heavy load of paperwork. Even then, Alvernia’s chapter of APO needed to be approved by the national organization, which happened on September 21, 2014. Alvernia’s chapter had help from its neighbors. Both Albright College and Kutztown University have their own Alpha Phi Omega chapters, and Albright’s chapter served as Alvernia’s “big brother.” As their big brother, the Albright chapter taught
Alvernia’s chapter skills to take the organization to another level. Today, students find APO a welcoming place that makes it easier to get involved. Theodore Rogers, junior communication major, is a new APO member. “I wanted to join APO to get more involved on campus and make new connections with people on campus,” Rogers said. Joining APO is straightforward. APO welcomes members in the beginning of every semester. Before becoming an official member of APO, students must undergo the “pledging” process. Each student pledging is assigned a “big brother” (a regular member of the group that has already pledged). Their “BIG” teaches them the history behind APO, the bylaws and the importance of APO’s goal. After about six weeks, the students pledging must take a test based on basic histori-
cal information of Alpha Phi Omega, after which a ceremony is held. Students in APO focus on service, which makes them a natural fit on Alvernia’s campus. Helping APO with its mission is its strong connection to the Holleran Center. The Center mission is to address and assist the community’s needs. All hours and most community service events are done through the center. APO members have volunteered at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, the Olivet’s Boys’ and Girls’ Club and appear at practically every Franciscan Friday service event. Students enjoy associating with their peers while giving back and gaining community service hours. “I love how we can come together and make a difference,” Mackenzie Bartlett, APO member, said. “There are so many ways that we can help create a
Photo courtesy of The Holleran Center
January/February 2016
campus news
Alpha Phi Omega members bonding through service by gardening for the community near Opportunity House.
change my goal for APO is for it to be a campus wide involved student organization. I hope to leave next year with a club that is famed.” Taking part in service projects takes resources. APO raises money through fundraisers such as selling chocolate or nail art. The group also hosts social events to help create a strong bond between the members APO’s leadership hopes to build a culture around the fraternity that will help students for years to come. “I hope students get something out of this now and take it further than their four years here. I hope they used what they gained and talents in their own lifestyle and
help make the world a better place” Umbenhauer said. “The ultimate goal is to make the fraternity self-efficient and long-lasting,” Reed said. “The next step is to create a sort of alumni association connected to Alvernia’s APO in order for the old brothers to remain connected with the new brothers.” “I don’t want it to end soon as a student graduates. Once you’re an Alpha Phi Omega brother, you’re a representation of the organization forever.” For further information, contact Emily Reed at emily. reed@alvernia.edu.
“It will show the passion we have,” Stewart said. “It will show the community we can overcome obstacles and push through, even when things are tough.” There is also talk of a reception after the show to give the audience a chance to mingle with the actors. “We’ve worked really hard, so we really want to make this [production] the best that we can,” Marone said.
A Streetcar Named Desire will be showing Wednesday April 6 – Saturday April 9 at 8 p.m. and Sunday April 10 at 2 p.m. in the Francis Hall Theatre. Admission is free for Alvernia students, faculty and staff, but is $5 for anyone not from the university. For more information, contact Chris Stewart (Christopher.stewart@alvernia.edu).
Photo courtesy of Mady Johnston
New Production, New Roles (Continued pg. 1)
Arts and Sciences) and Carol Schwanger (Department of Fine and Performing Arts Chair) to figure out how it could work,” Marone said. According to Stewart, “It took lots of discussion and, finally, the dean signed off on this student directed project.” Marone and Stewart are co-directing the production, with Wesley as the stage and production manager. Dr. Thomas, who typically directs theatre performances, is acting as producer. According to Stewart, this is part of what makes this production so important. “As majors we wanted the
opportunity to show what we can do and provide a production both we and the student body can enjoy. We felt that having a student directed project would create talk and excitement, something we want to create and continue for the program.” A Streetcar Named Desire also stands out in how it differs from previous “Pacelli’s Orphans” productions. “This production is more well-known than previous ones, because it’s such an American classic,” Marone said, “and it’s on a more difficult for our program to be doing, whereas previous pro-
ductions were on an easier scale.” Auditions for the play had a great turn-out, with many new and returning faces wanting a part in the play. “Everyone brought talent to their audition making our job that much harder, but in a good way,” Stewart said. “We had a total of about 18-20 people, so we had a really good turn-out and we were able to cast everyone,” Marone said. Marone, Stewart and Wesley are working tirelessly to make a production for the entire Alvernia community to enjoy.
Photo courtesy of Mady Johnston
The lead cast of A Streetcar Named Desire during a character discussion.
Taylor Wesley (Senior, Stage and Production Manager) reviewing notes during character discussion.
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university classes
January/February 2016
Vol. 55 Issue 1
Alvernia Students Aid Health “Heroism” The communication department is offering a special topics course in health communication this semester. Dr. Jodi Radosh, Associate Professor of Communication, designed the course to cover topics like physician-patient communication, health journalism, and public health education campaigns. One of the most exciting aspects of the course is that students will have the chance to gain hands-on experience by working on two different service-learning projects. The first, benefits the nonprofit organization Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) - St. Joseph Children’s Health based in Lancaster. This organization’s mission is to teach children healthy habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day, eating healthy foods, and daily exercise. The Jim Henson Company in New York City developed
a way to help teach children healthy habits by inventing a new Muppet. The Muppet’s name is “Hank the Health Hero,” who intends to teach children better eating habits, good health, and how to have “awesome” teeth. Dr. Radosh’s servicelearning course will launch a health communication campaign to spread awareness
about Hank the Health Hero and his mission. The class will be designing and disseminating health communication messages through creative means such as videos, social media, and special events. The students already met with CHI Director of Education, Lori McCracken, who talked about the program and its goals. Monica Echeverri, senior,
said, “So far I think the class is very exciting and intriguing. I really enjoy how everything is hands on.” Another student in the class, Colin MacCloskey, junior, said, “I’m so excited to work with Hank the Health Hero on this awesome project.” The other project the health communication class
Photo courtesy of Theodore Rogers
By Theodore Rogers Contributing Writer
Hank the Health Hero (left) with CHI Director of Education, Lori McCracken (right).
is working on is the launch and promotion of a new concussion support group on campus. The class will work on concussion education and awareness activities. The class is currently creating logos and slogans for the new support group. Concussion awareness holds a special place in Dr. Radosh’s heart. She suffered from a very serious concussion that took her two years to recover from. “It was horrific,” Dr. Radosh said. “I constantly had bad migraines, dizziness, and nausea. I could hardly get out of bed. I hope to help others who are suffering from post concussion syndrome. I would also like to spread awareness about traumatic brain injuries.” For more information about these campaigns, contact Dr. Radosh at jodi. radosh@alvernia.edu.
By Monica Echeverri Editor Our childhood is expressed often times through fictional tales that we admire and remember in the hopes that we can make our dreams reality one day. For the Chinese language professor Mi Ying, a story her grandmother told her drives her to this day. When Ying was young, her grandmother told her the story of the ‘Journey to the West’, a famous Chinese tale that depicts the trials and tribulations of a few individuals following a monk on his travels toward the west. Inspired by that story, Ying dreamed of one day leaving her beloved Gansu province to undertake her own journey toward the west. Her journey began when she turned 18 and moved to the city of Tianjin to pursue higher education at Tianjin Normal University. Ying sought to become a teacher, and so dedicated her time to mastering both Chinese and English. Ying’s hard work paid off as she earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Chinese Art & Literature, which allowed her to continue her studies at
Beijing Normal University as a graduate student. Ying jumped at the first chance she had to teach Chinese in America. After having left her town for her university almost a thousand miles away, a hop across the big pond seemed like no big deal for Ying. While the plane trip took over half a day, her high spirits were not lost in the July heat. “The 13-hour flight made me tired, but I still remained excited to begin this adventure,” Ying said. Despite her fatigue, the trip has been well worth it. She has come to love Alvernia University and all the United States has to offer. Ying focused on fulfilling her dreams of both teaching the Chinese culture and also taking the time to travel to America’s great cities. Ying has visited Boston, Orlando, New York City and Washington D.C., but Boston was her favorite. Ying had always wanted to see the internationally renowned grounds of MIT along with Harvard University. She reflected on her Boston experience fondly. “It is a dream shared among the Chinese youth to
visit such internationally recognized schools,” Ying said. While Ying loves America, she has had to sacrifice to be here. Just like undergraduate students leaving home for the first time, Ying felt homesick over the holidays, particularly Chinese Lunar New Year. Chinese Lunar New Year is as one of the biggest holidays celebrated in most Asian countries and communities, but Ying welcomed this Lunar New Year without her loved ones by her “side”. Despite her challenges, Ying’s resolve remains steadfast and insisted on spreading the holiday spirit. She held her first class that Monday in which she taught the customs that accompany the New Year celebrations, along with traditional papercutting. To her, this Lunar New Year stands as those most meaningful she has ever celebrated. “I would like to enhance the understanding between Chinese and American people, and perhaps through that, form bridges of friendship,” Ying said. Ying intends to continue traveling for years to come. Mi Ying’s journey to the west is only beginning.
Professor Mi Ying in New York City visiting the Statue of Liberty.
Photo courtesy of Mi Ying
The Profile of a New Age Explorer
January/February 2016
campus news
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Snow Patrol at your Service (Continued pg. 1) program that builds lasting relationships with our neighbors while doing good in the community closest to our University.”
Dr. Cicala quoted Tracy Hine in saying the students who went out to help the neighbors, “did everything [they] could with a shovel.”
Photo courtesy of Amber Nikolaus
the massive amount of snow. When asked her thoughts on Snow Patrol SGA President, Gabriella Messina said, “I believe it is a worthwhile
Before and after photo of a driveway shoveled after the snowstorm.
There was so much snow, making it quite labor intensive. While most students would rather sleep in on a Sunday morning, Snow Patrol volunteers did their best to help the community. Dr. Cicala believes that is what makes Alvernia a great campus. Students utilize the five core values to create a sense of “working with harmony,” Dr. Cicala described. Neighbors seem to be very happy with the sense of community Alvernia tries to create and continue to expand upon. Marisa Lombardo and Josh Harmes said many thanks were made at a Good Neighbors reception on January 30. Students who volunteer to help with the Snow Patrol can earn five hours of community service. The work involved with clearing out snow can be physically demanding, but helping family in need has a deeper spiritual reward. Messina said, “I think [Snow Patrol] was a great
bonding experience for all of the SGA members who could be there. I would do it again, maybe with a little less snow to shovel!” If you are interested in helping during a possible upcoming snowfall please contact Gabriella Messina at gabriella.messina@alvernia. edu or Josh Harmes at joshua. harmes@alvernia.edu.
ferent people really are and how Alvernia can accommodate and help each and every one of them. It definitely makes me appreciate my education and the university as a whole.” The thing that Piekarski wants the students to remember is how grateful the students should be for the Phonathon program. “They need to understand how difficult the job is and the money we bring in that benefit them,” Piekarski said. “They spend twelve hours
a week to ask people who they’ve never met before to give them money, which isn’t a very easy thing to do. When they actually do give them money, the entire student body benefits from that.” The Phonathon team will be hiring students for the fall semester. If students are interested in working in the program, they can email Mark Piekarski at mark.piekarski@ alvernia.edu to receive an application.
Snow may be over, but SGA may need your help with leaf relief!
Alvernia’s Phonathon Program Ranks As The Best Alvernia excels at getting money from people over the phone. Alvernia’s Phonathon program seeks to contact alumni and parents to ask them to donate to the university. Students are employed to work the phones through the work-study program. Mark Piekarski, the Director of Annual Giving at Alvernia, believes that hiring students was the best thing for the program. “No one can tell the school’s story better than the students that are taking part in earning their education at the school,” Piekarski said. “The spring semester that I have here in (May 2012) shows they hired professionals to do it, but they overpromised and underperformed.” Since taking over the program, the student Phonathon team has raised over $126,600 in 819 hours of calling, averaging $154.57 an hour. The program is also number one in the country among all Wilson-Bennett software users. WilsonBennett uses software that
focuses on educational and non-profit fundraising. Alvernia leads among 145 schools that use the software. Specifically, Alvernia’s program is number one in percentage of gifts acquired on credit card at 45%, with the national average being 20%. The donations from alumni have helped Alvernia become number one in the country in pledge fulfillment. One of Piekarski’s favorite lines is that there are no phones in the Phonathon room. “Half the schools in the country still work in a manual world, which is where they give them sheets of paper and they dial the phone,” Piekarski said. “My game plan coming in was to have an automated system to improve the efficiency of the callers.” Despite running other Phonathon programs for SUNY Oneonta and the National Republican Congressional Committee, Piekarski said, the thing that makes this program different is the caliber of the students that are on the phone. “I think the advantage of coming in and starting this program and building it from the ground up is [because]
the students that I hired didn’t have any bad habits that I had to break,” Piekarski said. “They took the training, took the direction, and were successful.” Hannah Asbury, sophomore, said her favorite thing about working in the Phonathon Program is getting to talk to the alumni. “I love hearing their different stories and how their Alvernia experience enhanced their lives,” Asbury said. “It makes me see how dif-
Photo courtesy of Brian O’Shaughnessy
By Brian O’Shaughnessy Editor
Mark Piekarski is the manager of the school’s Phonathon program, and has helped build one of the country’s top programs.
campus news
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Vol. 55 Issue 1
Cooper Scores Way into Alvernia History Charles Cooper, senior, has placed himself among the all-time Alvernia greats as he scored his 1,000th career point as a Crusader on January 20 at rival Albright College. Cooper reached the milestone on a fast-break layup late in the first half. Cooper has electrified the Crusader faithful throughout his years at Alvernia with his deep 3’s and his high-energy play on the court. Cooper has come a long way in his career here at Alvernia. He spent his freshman and sophomore seasons learning behind star players Brian Parker and Kahlil Bennett, waiting for his opportunity to burst onto the scene to become a star in his own right. He seized his opportunity on the biggest stage of them all in his sophomore season in the MAC title game against
Photo courtesy of Jon King
By Justin Herforth Contributing Writer
Charles Cooper (#22, center) maneuvering through the defense versus Delaware Valley University on November 13, 2015.
Stevenson. Cooper came into the game with only a few seconds left to win the title. He hit the game winning shot to give the Crusaders their second MAC title in a row. “Only playing four minutes in the championship, especially on the road and missing my first two shots,” was a challenge, Cooper said. “Just knowing coach had faith in me to have me in the game
was huge for me.” “Coach told me if Brian (Parker) and Kahlil (Bennett) aren’t open, get open.” Cooper got open. He hit his most memorable shot as a Crusader bringing the second consecutive MAC title home. His shot even made the SportsCenter Top 10. “I was still with the team at 2 a.m. that night and when we saw it on there we all went crazy,” Cooper said.
unhappy with the threequarters day. Yanelis Herrera, junior, is a commuter student from Reading. “I do not think Alvernia conducted the situation the correct way because the streets had not been properly cleaned due to the lack of services in the city of Reading,” Herrera said. Herrera and several other commuters were not able to make it to class that Monday afternoon because their vehicles were stuck in the snow. “I decided not to show up to any of my classes because my car would not come out of the snow and I did not want to risk my safety,” Herrera said. Even resident students had challenges getting around. Megan Lomax, junior, was stuck in her dorm building for three days because of a giant patch of ice. Lomax is confined to a wheelchair, and facilities had not been able to make paths wide enough for her to get by. She could not even make it to the cafeteria because of the hazardous conditions.
“It is upsetting because I could not get to classes,” Lomax said. “It was hard to already be missing classes on the second week of school.” The university has since made plans to allow Lomax’s friends to take her food to her in case of another bad snowstorm. Still, Lomax was concerned about her fellow students. “I think it is important to make sure all the roads are clear around the area and that the sidewalks, stairs and ramps are safe and clear for us to just be walking around campus before we should be required to have classes.” School closures are costly to the university, but Alvernia’s administration values student safety over all other concerns. Doug Smith, Vice President for Finance and Administration, has to weigh several things before announcing the campus is closed. “Generally we look at the forecast very early in the morning and get a sense of how things are on campus,” Smith said. “Then I talk to Dr. Flynn, and we try to make a decision by 6:30 in the morning because of people that have
“It was a tremendous honor just to be on there, I can’t even put it in words.” In his junior and senior seasons at Alvernia, Cooper’s role has drastically changed. He has emerged into the star role for the team. Cooper went from being a spark-plug scorer off the bench to becoming one of the leaders by example and vocally. Before every game in the pregame huddles, he gets the team pumped up and at the end yells, “let’s go!” Cooper and Alvernia are looking to capture their fourth consecutive MAC title this season. “It’s just bittersweet to be honest,” Cooper said. “To know that you have the opportunity to go 4 for 4 in the MAC and to have the chance to do it at home that makes it even more special, to end my career here on a note like that.” After Alvernia, Cooper is looking to work with youth to improve their basketball
skills. He hopes to one day work at the Philadelphia 76ers basketball camp. “I want to be able to pass on the experiences and the lessons I have learned in my years here at Alvernia to help the kids as they develop their own games,” Cooper said. “I hope one day to have my own camp, the Charles Cooper Camp.”
Keep updated on games with the Crusader Crazies @VernCrazies
Jonas’ Unbrotherly Snow Led to Student Woe By Carmen Gonzalez Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Lizmary Mejia
Winter Storm Jonas hammered Alvernia on Saturday, January 23. The city endured about 30 inches of snow over Friday night into early Sunday morning. In the aftermath of the blizzard, many Alvernians wondered if the university would be closed on Monday. While the snow had ended and the sun was out, there were vehicles still buried under piles of snow and many streets that still had to be plowed. Rather than closing for the day, Alvernia cancelled classes before 11:30 a.m. and decided to run with a shorter day. Some students were
Facilities workers did their best to make campus safe for students.
longer commutes.” Alvernia stayed open on the Monday after the blizzard because of Smith’s opinion of the conditions nearby the university. “The weather was over in this particular case so it was a matter of conditions,” Smith said. “That’s an assessment of what’s going on in the relatively near area around this college.” Alvernia’s 900 resident students need additional university services in very bad weather. The last few years of blizzards have taught the university a lot about disaster preparedness. “We have stationed more shovels with public safety and resident students do have the option of borrowing a shovel if they need one,” Smith said. “And we also want to remind students that the best way to know what’s going on is by E2campus text alert, and have it set up by email if preferred.” Students can sign up for E2campus by visiting www. e2campus.net/my/alvernia.
Interested in helping out with the Alvernian? Please contact Amber Nikolaus at amber.nikolaus@ alvernia.edu
January/February 2016
sports
7 Vol. 55 Issue 1
Crusader Baseball Seeks MAC Championship and Beyond The Crusader bats seek to crack once more in pursuit of another MAC championship banner. While the Crusader men’s baseball team has lost AllAmerican Ben Sawyer, they feel confident they are still in the championship hunt. Last year, the Crusaders went 31 and 12 in the regular season and 17 and 4 in conference play, ultimately going on to win the Middle American Conference championship. Still, the ambitions of the Crusaders do not stop with winning the MAC championship. Sophomore catcher Ethan Francis thinks the Crusaders can go all the way. “It was a great year last year,” Francis said, “but the ultimate goal is to go to the College World Series. That’s where we want to be when May comes around.” Alvernia had 5 players
named to the 2016 Collegiate Baseball Division III “Players to Watch” list. Among them were relief pitcher Lou Marotta, junior southpaw Ryan Sheekey and right hander Matt Backlund. Chris Burns, starting senior catcher, and Cam Coons, junior first baseman, also received the nod. Like Francis, Burns is focused more on winning titles than awards. “It’s nice to get the recognition, but I’m focused on the team as a whole, winning MAC’s again, and getting to the College World Series,” Burns said. “That’s where my real focus is.” Junior pitcher, Tony Baglivo felt that the MAC championship is the least the team needs to do to be successful. “We want to win, it would be a little bit of a disappointment if we don’t go as far as last year, we want to get past regionals for sure,” Baglivo said.
There is also a change in the guard at pitching coach, as the former MLB player Wade Miller did not return for this season. Rich Gayner has replaced his role as pitching coach. “He sticks to his philosophy of how he thinks pitchers should pitch, and I think it’s working,” Baglivo said. Burns thinks that Gayner is already off to a good start. “It’s going to be different at first because its two different styles, but I think the team is adapting to [Gayner], and I like how it looks,” Burns said. The infield is looking very young this year for the Crusaders. The infield will likely feature sophomores Dillion Dunne and Mike Cunningham, and even a flurry of first years may be in the mix. The Crusaders can still rely on junior Cam Coons to lead the infield at first base. Both Vinny Case and Ben Dubas, sophomores, will return to a similarly youthful outfield. The pitching rotation looks
adding a men’s team for about 7 years, but the problem was there were no teams in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) to play. “There were a bunch of schools that were talking about it at the same time and then we thought that this is a no brainer,” Stiles said. Along with Alvernia, Arcadia and Wilkes are two other schools in the MAC that are crafting a new men’s volleyball program. Schlosser was chosen to be the head coach of the newborn team, and it is without a doubt that she has had quite an experience with volleyball. Coach Schlosser has an outstanding coaching back-
ground. She has worked with USA Volleyball and won countless championships and division crowns with Emmaus High School’s men’s volleyball program. While at Emmaus, Schlosser received the Coach of the Year award in 2010 and 2012. Most recently, Schlosser served as an assistant coach for Kean University. In 2015, Coach Schlosser helped lead the team to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championships. These stunning accomplishments add to the reasons people are eager to see what she will do for the Crusaders. “I’m very excited for what she is going to bring to Alvernia,” Stiles said. “She is very knowledgeable of the game,” Grohoski said. With a new team comes new difficulties. Recruiting for a college sports program is already a complicated chore to master, but recruiting for a brand new program has special challenges. However, Coach Schlosser is taking this challenge head on, and wants to present this new program as an amazing opportunity for prospective players. “This will make history…
strong. Notables such as Backlund and Sheekey lead the rotation while Baglivo, Kevin Short, and others should see time on the bump this year. While Division III all-time saves leader, Kevin BeckerMeditto, left the Crusaders to play independent ball, the flame throwing right hander Matt Osgoodby could be a great replacement to seal the deal in the late innings. Coming off of a great
season, Lou Marotta is also a highly regarded lefty that is versatile and can throw a lot of innings to help the pitching staff. The Crusaders start their run at another title in Ashland, Virginia on February 20 at noon against RandolphMacon College.
Photo courtesy of Jon King
By Keith Noonan Editor
Alvernia celebrates the victory in regionals versus Misericordia.
Next spring, a new sports team is sure to “set” a major “spike” in Alvernia history. Men’s volleyball will be the newest addition to Crusader Athletics. Led by Coach Debra Schlosser, prospective players are excited for next year’s competition. “I never expected something like this to happen… Of course I’m excited,” Craig Grohoski, a potential Crusader volleyball player, said. How did something like this happen? According to William Stiles, the Athletic Director of Alvernia Sports, there has been talk about
Matt Reinoehl (left) plans to join the men’s volleyball team in the spring.
Photo courtesy of Matt Baer
By Matt Baer Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Matt Baer
Men’s Volleyball Coming Soon to a Gym Near You
Coach Schlosser (right) hosts an open gym for those men interested in being a part of the future team.
These kids coming in will be the first to play on an Alvernia men’s volleyball team,” Schlosser said. The endeavor to build a team has already begun. Coach Schlosser has held a number of open gyms, and is already preparing potential players for next year’s season. It is impossible to tell how well the team will do, but one thing is clear, people are excited for the bumps, sets,
and spikes that the Spring of 2017 will bring.
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other news
January/February 2016
Vol. 55 Issue 1
A History of “Crusading” for Reading, Pennsylvania
tive trains, so as to garner attention and sales in an increasingly slender market. Moving away from the rugged, muscular, and lo-tech design of early steam engines, these new trains were made to appear futuristic. The Reading Company introduced The Crusader on December 13, 1937. The name was submitted by a New Jersey native as part of a contest that offered “$250 for a name.” Though built by the Reading Company and designated the rail system’s “premier express,” The Crusader ran exclusively between Philadelphia, New York City, and Jersey City, New Jersey.
Paul Cret designed the interior and exterior of the train and the Edward Budd Manufacturing Company built the cars and locomotives. The stainless steel siding that gave the train its edgy look was constructed and applied in Reading, with additional work completed in Philadelphia. Imagery evoking crusaders and knights dominated the initial advertisements for the passenger train, with one ad touting the look of the train as “…sheathed from headlight to rounded observation stern, in a shining armor of Stainless Steel…” In the end, even the modern conveniences and
added vinyl records to their stock list. The most known place to receive a vinyl record is at a “mom and pop shop” who specializes in it. West Reading is home to Vertigo Music, while Robesonia is home to Rite Round Records. The best selection in the Berks County area can be found at Record Connection in Ephrata. This record store holds a wide variety of artists and genres. They have an entire room dedicated to 45s, which are small 7 inch records that hold one song on each side. Outside of Berks County, just an hour north of Reading, lies one of the nation’s top record stores called Double Decker Records. Double Decker Records in Allentown is a vinyl lover’s dream, with an entire room filled with records at the small price of 50 cents per record. Alvernia’s campus is beginning to see a surge in the number of record collectors. Junior biochemistry student Nina Lygeris began collecting records after a family member gave her a record player. “After I got the record player, I took a trip out to a second hand record shop and got all these cool albums for
$2 a piece,” Lygeris said. Junior occupational therapy student, Jocelyn MacAleese became interested in vinyl when someone gave her a David Bowie record. “He knew how much I loved Bowie,” MacAleese said. “He just wanted me to enjoy his music in the best way he knew, which was vinyl.” Sharing vinyl records has brought people together. “I have friends who collect vinyl records and it’s cool that we all have a hobby we can share and chat about,” Lygeris said. Lygeris believes that once people become a part of the vinyl collecting community, there will be no turning back. “It’s awesome that music is so accessible online, but nothing beats the sound of the needle hitting the vinyl,” Lygeris said. Today’s popular artists have capitalized on the growing market for vinyl records and have begun to make their albums available on vinyl. This allows for all kinds of music lovers to enjoy their favorite band on a vinyl record. Does vinyl have staying power in 2016? “I do think people will con-
The Comeback Kid: Vinyl Records By Macy Storm Editor 2016 is the year of the comeback. Fuller House, a spin-off of Full House, will have 90s kids tuning in to hear Uncle Jesse deliver his smooth pickup lines and Uncle Joey do his numerous character impressions. The cast of Friends is reuniting to give fans the last celebration they want. Gilmore Girls is now bringing closure to fans that left with questions after the seventh season ended abruptly. N*Sync had reunited for a performance and the nostalgia was immediately felt. After decades of obscurity, vinyl records managed to make a comeback in the digital age of music, such as iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube. There has recently been a desire to physically own music and vinyl records fulfill that desire. Vinyl records have an authentic sound different from hearing a song on the computer or an iPod. Now the trend has spread like wildfire. Today, it is much more possible to find a store that will sell some vinyl records than it was even 20 years ago. Many major retailers such as Walmart and FYE have
pace of The Crusader could not outrun the speed of progress. With the rise of the automobile, passenger train service gradually dwindled away. In 1962 the locomotives and individual cars of The Crusader were sold off to the highest bidders. Since the 1960s, one of the observation cars has been discovered, purchased, and put on display. It is now a part of the collection at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. There doesn’t seem to be a connection between The Reading Crusader and our Alvernian Crusaders, though. Sister Rosemary Stets was a professor at the college from 1975 until 1980. She puts the naming of athletic teams between 1975, the year when the men’s basketball team won its first game, and about 1980. According to Sister Rosemary, Alvernia chose the name “Crusaders” because of the more noble characteristics associated with knight-
hood. “The Crusaders played a large role in the medieval time period when Saint Francis was in peaceful negotiations with the leader of the Muslim people,” Sister Rosemary said. “Though there are negative aspects of the Crusades, Alvernia wanted to focus on the positive connotations of knighthood. Saint Francis was very active during this time period, and the college shared in the saint’s beliefs in understanding, compassion, and the power and importance of open dialogue.” Positive characteristics of knights’ traits such as chivalry and bravery were what the founders had in mind for Alvernia’s athletic teams. Though the Reading Crusader and the Alvernia Crusaders aren’t linked directly, they do share ties in the city of Reading and in the noble imagery of the armorclad knight.
tinue to be attracted to this type of collecting,” MacAleese said. The secure power of vinyl lies in the hands of three things: the price, the duration of nostalgia, and Record Store Day. Many older records can be found in record stores for under $5.00, making owning records cheap, easy, and accessible. The older generations tend to purchase vinyl to hang it on their wall out of respect.
The last factor keeping vinyl in power is Record Store Day. Every April 16, hundreds of record stores across the country open their doors early to allow record fiends to get special releases and new vinyl albums. As long as these three factors continue to exist, the vinyl record phenomenon will continue to spread from generation to generation.
Photo courtesy of Macy Storm
Why are we the Alvernia Crusaders? Perhaps the origin of our mascot does not lie in a shining knight, but instead in a mighty train. The Reading Railroad was part of a powerhouse railway system that rose to prominence in the early 1900s. Coupled with lines running out of New York City, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, the Reading Company played a role in transporting coal, an important resource that contributed to American industrialization. Between its creation and the Great Depression, Reading Railroad began to build and employ passenger trains that ran between some of the larger northeastern cities. However, with the onset of the Great Depression, many passengers began to find the fares too expensive. Many railways began to employ more visually attrac-
Photo courtesy of Dale Saylor
By Dale Saylor Contributing Writer
Many modern artists, such as Imagine Dragons, can be found on a vinyl record.