February/March 2019
THIS ISSUE
Calling History Majors
Fishing Club
No Pets at AU Gwen Bauer Managing Editor Alvernia University banned all non-service animals from campus over winter break, and students are not pleased. Kirsten Lake, a first year student, started a student petition to overturn the rule. “I believe having a pet-friendly campus creates a very welcoming environment,” Lake said. Lake also noted that St. Francis is the patron saint of ecologists, animals, and nature, so she believes having a ban on animals does not line up with our school morals. “My goal in writing the petition is to show how much of a positive impact there is when the campus is petfriendly.” Lake said.
The petition is asking to get back the dogs in Res Life because of how helpful they were to Kirsten and her friends with adjusting this past semester. They also hope that it will eventually let the other pets back on campus. Many of Alvernia’s staff bring in their pets for the students to enjoy since they are away from home. Shannon Merkey, Alvernia’s Assistant Director of Housing Operations, brought in her three dogs every Friday. Merkey has been working for 15 years at Alvernia’s Residence Life department and has been bringing her dogs in ever since. Bringing in the dogs can be important for the staff in Residence Life for many reasons. “We sometimes have to tell students that they have lost a
back a pet for those hard moments. “They certainly helped the freshmen, including me, when we started to become homesick due to being away from home for the first time,” Mackenzie Coombs, a firstyear communication student, said. Coombs lives in Veronica Hall, where she had the opportunity to see Merkey’s dogs every Friday. Coombs
also mentioned wanting to go home many weekends in the beginning, but the dogs helped her to manage her homesickness by making it “more tolerable.” Now that no non-service dogs are allowed on campus, students miss out on the calm and friendly vibes that the animals bring with them. A study done in 2015 by Mariah J. Picard of the University of Maine found
Inside Scoop on Public Safety
Photo Courtesy of Gwen Bauer
Alvernia’s Celebrates Culture
Rocco, Gwen Bauer’s puppy, that is now three years old, enjoying the warm sun on Alvernia’s Quad during the Fall of 2015.
Photo Courtesy of Kirsten Lake
what’s in
Volume 58 Issue 1
Shannon Merkey’s dog, Lola, posing for a perfect picture in Veronica Hall.
loved one, a parent, a sister, a brother, but if we can have the dogs there, it is very helpful and it makes a difference,” Merkey said. The pets being there in Residence Life for those times
is important because the animals help to comfort and calm the students. Merkey said that they have many times had to do this and they would quickly send a staff member home to bring
“that students’ positive mood increased, but only for those who directly interacted with a dog.” The study was done to see how dogs can help people of different ages, but they put a focus on how the dogs could help college students to cope with all the stress and changes. When students get to directly interact with dogs on campus it can increase their happiness and decrease any anxiety or stress. Alvernia’s professor of sociology, Donna Yarri, is an animal activist. She has helped and fostered many animals on her own, specifically cats. She has brought in her pets many times for her classes so the students and the pets could interact because she trains her cats to be therapy cats. Dr. Yarri has not always trained cats, but began about 5 or 6 years ago because of Alvernia’s involvement with the Humane Society of Berks County. Yarri believes there is a place for pets on campus, but there should be guidelines or regulations to keep the campus safe for everyone. “I think there is a right way to go about changing the policy or getting it modified, possibly changing it to have pets on weekends or Friday’s only,” Dr. Yarri said.
After all this uproar from the students and staff, one question still needs to be answered and that is why has this rule been implemented after so many years of dogs being allowed on campus. According to Dr. Jerry Greiner, Alvernia’s interim provost, the rule was implemented for several reasons, but the main one was allergies. There were also concerns about pets being a distraction to the employees and students, as well as instances of dogs barking and even a few pet mess accidents. Dr. Greiner said that the biggest issue with non-service dogs on campus is that it does not look very good when potential students are touring. The rule is that there are no pets allowed on campus, but there are exceptions. Service animals are allowed by law, but other pets can still be welcomed with permission. “Never say never,” Dr. Greiner said. “A lot of time and energy was spent on this, but I know a lot of faculty was not able to be involved enough, or even at all, on the decision. So there may be a new opening of the door.” Advocates for a more liberalized pet policy may want to advocate to our incoming president.
2 February/March 2019
FLYNN FILES
Vol. 58 Issue 1
t h e alver nian Managing Editor Gwen Bauer Layout Gwen Bauer Section Editors Ron Adams Amy Dundon Chelsea Dziamba Khalil Eaddy Todd Turner Contributing Writers Ivan Fegely Sidney Goodman Juan Palacios Palmer Rodenhaber 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.
© 2019 The Alvernian
From college days to the present, American literature and history have been my great loves. But as I anticipate my final months as Alvernia’s president, it is Shakespeare who provides appropriately immortal words of wisdom: “The Past is Prologue.” I am fortunate as a leader to have stood on the shoulders of my predecessor presidents, long-time current and retired faculty and staff, and of course the visionary Bernardine Franciscan Sisters who founded Alvernia College and continue to sponsor Alvernia University. Shakespeare may be right about the importance of history and tradition, but our Franciscan Sisters are the first to say they could not have imagined, even a decade ago, the Alvernia of 2019. As a longtime college president, I have learned the essential lesson that thriving universities must continually evolve and be alert to unforeseen opportunities if they are to best prepare
their students for life and the world of work. So as we welcome John Loyack and Glynis Fitzgerald as our new president and provost, we do well to both celebrate our transformation from a tiny, commuter college into a comprehensive, regional university and recommit to dreams and plans for an even better future. Alvernia has historically had a special commitment to educating women and men from our city and county, both older adults and working professionals as well as recent high school graduates. Today, we serve hundreds of graduate students from the area seeking advanced degrees, and our first-year class of almost 450 includes about 25% of its members from Berks County with almost 30 from Reading High. But we also now draw our entire student body from 22 states, with 30% of our freshmen from outside of Pennsylvania and with 1,000 living on campus.
as well as access. Our Reading Scholars Program graduated 100% of its initial cohort of talented students. Doctoral student Abby Wells recently won Alvernia’s first prestigious Fulbright Award. And alumnae (and alumni) of all ages are now leaders in their professions and in their local communities. Alvernia has historically considered community service an essential part of our education. Beginning decades ago, long-serving faculty like newly named Professor Emerita Ellen Engler and the indefatigable Polly Mathys helped nurture our students’ selfless volunteerism and generosity of spirit. Today, our students contribute 40,000 hours of service annually. Faculty, staff, and alums contribute to a variety of non-profit organizations and social justice causes. Our Board of Trustees features numerous civic servant-leaders. And the university is revered locally for the contributions of the Holleran Center, the O’Pake Institute, the Seniors College, and our arts and lecture series. Alvernia has historically championed a values-based education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. Today, because we believe it is essential that a Catholic,
Franciscan university promote open discussion of challenging issues while respecting widely varying and strongly held views, the university community has adopted a statement of “Commitment to Civil Dialogue and Freedom of Expression.” Our Search Program ensures all firstyearstudents confront and ponder “Enduring Questions” in multiple courses, and all graduate as well as undergraduate programs require at least one course in ethics. Students are inspired by a dedicated faculty to become “ethical leaders with moral courage prepared to do well and do good.” Alvernia has historically prepared future teachers, addiction counselors, police, nurses, accountants. Today, an array of masters and doctoral programs, especially in health care and the human services, and new majors in Computer Science and Digital Media Marketing offer students superb professional preparation. Pass rates for our occupational therapists and nurses range annually between 90-100%, and 97% of our recent seniors were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Alvernia has historically welcomed people of all
Dr. Thomas Flynn, President of Alvernia University. Alvernia has historically been a special place of opportunity for firstgeneration students, working
women, and others with limited access to higher education. Today Alvernia is also known for excellence
backgrounds and faiths. As our iconic Sr. Pacelli once said memorably at a faculty seminar: “If the Sisters wanted only to educate Catholics, we would never have settled in Berks County!” Today, Alvernia is an interfaith leader in our community, working closely with leaders of the Jewish and Muslim communities. A prominent community leader recently described Alvernia as “the spiritual home” for many in our community. What lies ahead for Alvernia? We can no more predict the future than could have those iconic Sisters when they founded Alvernia 60 years ago!
But we can enthusiastically welcome President-Elect John Loyack and ProvostElect Glynis Fitzgerald to an academic community devoted to our Franciscan values and the pursuit of “knowledge joined with love.” And we can and do anticipate with them a future for Alvernia full of promise and unimagined possibility. May our new executives--in partnership with faculty, trustees, and the entire Alvernia community-continue to embody the legacy of the religious women we revere as our pioneering foundresses. Peace and All Good, Tom Flynn
Fly High with Us, And Write for the Alvernian!
HISTORY
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February/March 2019
Vol. 58 Issue 1
Amy Dundon Contributing Editor When one thinks of Alvernia University, they think of our wonderful healthcare majors, such as occupational therapy or nursing, or our renowned criminal justice program and their relationship to the Reading Police Academy. However, with all these fantastic majors, it’s easy to forget the smaller departments such as the history and political science majors. Everyone takes a class in these departments during their time at Alvernia, but what about the people that only take these classes? Why do students choose these majors? One reason is the amazing faculty that teach these classes. These two departments only have three full-time faculty between them: Dr. Tim Blessing, Dr. Kevin Donnelly, and Dr. Victoria Williams, all of whom are heavily
involved in university life. Dr. Blessing teaches various PhD classes at the graduate level, Dr. Williams is one of the Honors Program faculty, and Professor Donnelly can always be seen at student theater productions. History majors do not just study what has happened in the past, they also apply these studies to what will happen in the future. The value of the history degree is evident in the classroom. According to Professor Donnelly, there are two types of history classes at Alvernia. One example of course offered is a lecturebased class to 60 students in the lecture hall. The lecture class is mainly Professor Donnelly talking to a group of students while they write what he says down. Upper level classes are purely discussion based, and are closer knit and interactive. Professor Donnelly has one word of advice for any prospective students on the age-old question, Is history hard?
“I think the (history classes) are hard if they (students) don’t show up,” Nicole Harman, history major, said. “I think they’re incredibly easy if you simply show up and read.” Harman said the best part of her being a history major is learning about how past events and current events relate in modern times. Along with history, political science helps you understand the nature of politics, how politics relate to issues of justice within the world around us, the role of government in societies in the past and present, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Political science also gives you an understanding of significant international and domestic issues, such a voting and participating in a society. With a political science degree, you’ll develop critical thinking and writing skills, along with more sophistication in your reasoning and analytical thinking about the world.
You’ll gain insight into contemporary problems, national and global issues, and learn how to assess difficulties and creatively devise solutions. One current junior political science student is Eddie Di Pietro. Di Pietro is thinking about law school. “The
political science department is going to help me become a lawyer in my personal opinion one because of the amazing recommendations that it provides,” he said. “Dr. Williams is a fantastic recommendation to any career that you want to get into, her credentials and her
knowledge of her subject is fantastic and to have her as a reference, to begin with, is something that puts me above and beyond numerous applicants in the future.” “When I’m in classes with my political science peers, I notice that there is an overall meaningful discussion that
History
Photo Courtesy of Amy Dundon
Classes on the Past and the Present….
Eddie Di Pietro, junior, is a finance major with a minor in political science. He has a stack of LSAT books and knows how to use them. Political science courses are helping him achieve his goal of becoming a lawyer.
is logical in reason,” he continued. “People think things out step by step, and everyone’s opinion is valid because they have something to back it up with.” Another junior political science student, Victoria Noone, wants to learn how to be a more effective advocate.
Political Science
World Civilizations HIS 110/C/01 TR 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM; Donnelly, Kevin P.
Intro to Political Science POS 101/01 MWF 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM Williams, Victoria
Special Topics:Watergate HIS 290/C/01H TR 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM; Blessing, Tim H.
Special Topics: Watergate POS 290/C/02H TR 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM; Blessing, Tim H.
The Study of American History HIS 112/C/01 MW 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM; Blessing, Tim H.
Special Topics: African American History HIS 290/C/02 Fri 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM; Moran, William E. 20th Century World History HIS 303/C/01 Tues 5:30 PM - 7:50 PM; Donnelly, Kevin P. The American Revolution & Constitution HIS 308/C/01 TR 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Blessing, Tim H.
Below is a listing of the following History and Political Science classes offered next fall. Hopefully, you can find room in your schedule to take one!
Special Topics: SeekTruth/Post-truth World POS 290/01/H MW 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM; Williams, Victoria
History of Political Thought POS 424/C/01 TR 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Sholtz, Andrea Janae
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HEALTH
February/March 2019
Vol. 58 Issue 1
Juan Palacios Contributing Writer
Students should also use their free time wisely. Get an early start on assignments and major projects so you will have more time near the end of the semester for fun. Budget your free time early on to finish homework, review material for tests, and finish group projects that always appear during the course of the semester. Not being rushed will make you more effective and productive. Allow yourself also time to recuperate and to enjoy other activities to keep your head in the game rather than out. If you have a big project, start right away. Choose your topic as early as possible to give yourself enough time to brainstorm, to do research, and develop a piece worthy of a pat on the back. Some former alumni provided some feedback and what kind of things they did in order to make it to the big day in one piece.
Communication graduate Ryan Weber had many challenges throughout college. “Stress for me in college was different compared to most college students,” Weber said. “I had a stroke at 14 and that caused a number of problems in my life. These issues would factor into my college career in a major way.
The hardest one for me was epilepsy.” Weber had to learn how to manage stress just to survive. “While in college I had more seizures I’ve ever had in my entire life,” he said. “I was under so much stress at one point I felt like dropping out. I even had to switch majors because of the frequency of the seizures. Having a seizure
is stressful enough but then knowing you missed class and you’re behind on work, that just made things so much more aggravating.” “All I know is I spent a lot of time out of the classroom instead of in it due to my medical issues and that caused a lot of stress and even panic at times when there were deadlines,” Weber
Photo Courtesy of Juan Palacios
Graduation is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and sacrifices, which see its reward in the moment when students throw their caps in the air finalizing that stage in a person’s life. The last semester can be very stressful due to the uncertainty of life after college. There are many ways for you as a student to keeps your levels of stress down and enjoy the meaning of graduating rather than making this a negative and stressful event. The first step is to be prepared which means to plan out the activities that take place leading up to the day of graduation. Have an accurate number of the people who will be attending the ceremony. By doing so, the number of invitations will be one less thing to worry about since
in case of needing more, the University needs to know beforehand to have the necessary accommodations. Avoid the added pressure from family members or friends who constantly ask, “what’s next,” or “what’s your plan.” These kinds of questionings only generate more stress and if there is not a specific answer yet, it is better to just keep that question unanswered. Be kind to yourself. Balance your schedule with others and time for yourself to complete your work and reflect on how far you have come. Eating healthy is important because it will provide the nutrients needed to perform at a high level. Another benefit of eating healthy is that it helps maintain a positive mood even when times get tough. Thinking positively helps us overcome complicated days, knowing the light at the end of the tunnel has never seemed closer than now.
L-R: Andrew Cook and Justin Herforth show their happiness alongside Polly Mathys (center) moments before graduation.
Photo Courtesy of Juan Palacios
Avoid Stress During the Last Semester of College
L-R: Yenny Romero, Rebecca Noel and Diana Molina celebrate their friendship and graduation.
said. “However, I wanted an education, and nothing was going to stop me from that. The best advice I can offer while under stress is to take a breather and relax for a minute. Try and always remember someone is always in a worse situation. That always cleared my head. College was one of hardest periods of my life, but I made it through. If I can, anyone can.” Nick Sokolovich, another communication graduate, made most of his own problems at school. “I showed up to classes late and goofed around in them,” he said. “That’s the way to maintain my boyish good looks and also helped me managing my stress while still learning because my brain related goofing off with the material in class.” Sokolovich did benefit from a balanced approach to studying. “I would write raps and poems for my notes in class,” he said. “Afterward, I would play the piano in the band room to study. Keeping my mind fresh and not solely focused on class material alleviated stress greatly giving me a lot of creative endeavors to look forward to.” Dr. Patricia Kreider, Alvernia’s staff psychologist,
has a few pointers in how to be successful in our last semester. “The final semester of a student’s university career can be an exciting, but anxiety invoking time,” Dr. Kreider said. “The structure that a student has been following for the past several years is now coming to an end. Often students become anxious as this transitional time approaches.” Dr. Kreider recommended several approaches, including using university resources to help plan for the future, as well as understanding that there is usually more than one way to find happiness and success. “Stay focused on the present and steps you can take in each moment to move you toward your future goals.” In all, keeping a positive attitude helps us contain all the negative forces that surround us every step that we take. By allowing ourselves to be positive despite the situation, we will know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Graduating is possible. Our last semester does not need to be difficult if we take the time to plan and prepare.
February/March 2019
FOOD
5 Vol. 58 Issue 1
Plates, cups, and silverware are simple things that we use every day to eat. While members of the Alvernia community might complain about the food, we take our plates and utensils for granted. The cafeteria staff asks us to put your dishes by the wash station when you are done so they can be washed and reused. But our flatware is disappearing. Early in the semester, there was an emailed notice that over 3,000 plates and 1,500 cups “mysteriously” went missing. The missing cups aren’t the to-go styrofoam cups used to take desserts back to your residence hall, but the reusable plates and cups that should stay in the cafeteria. The email sent to students about this problem said that resident students needed to return the plates and cups, or
that all the resident students would be fined $250 to pay for replacements. Victor Acheson has never taken a plate or a cup out of the cafeteria and feels he is being improperly punished. “It is unfair to those who return the plates and cups,” Acheson said. “We already pay enough to go here on top of a fee that I feel like I should not have to be paying because I am not part of the issue. There has to be another solution to this.” The affair was put on a platter at the January 31 SGA meeting. “SGA said that they are continuing to look into the issue,” Gwen Bauer, senior, said. “If it continues to get worse then they are going to fine people. They also mentioned the commuters would not have to pay the fine because they do not have a meal plan, just the students who live on campus would.” Acheson thinks that
Alvernia should impose a stricter surveillance state to catch the cup culprits. “[The university] should, if they do not already, put cameras near the exits of the cafeteria so they can see who takes the plates and cups,” he said. “They also can go back to putting the drop boxes outside the hallways of residence halls and when they get full someone can return them. They had it last year, but what happened to that?” Matt Lee, a first year resident assistant, agrees that most students shouldn’t pay for the wrongdoing of a few. “For those people that are not taking any plates or cups, it is unfair and unjust to them. They are being responsible and doing the right thing so why should they be punished?” Lee has tried to solve this cutlery caper by investigating who started bringing bus boxes into residence halls. These boxes were used
The Mood on Food Ron Adams Contributing Editor Why does the cafeteria serve what it serves? A regular student complaint at Alvernia is about the type and quality of the food available for students, but everything happens for a reason. Executive chef Joe Palmieri oversees Aladdin Food Management Services at the university. Palmieri has been recently featured in the Reading Eagle for his event, Chef’s Table. The event gave more students exposure to risotto, a rice dish that is preferred by Palmieri, as well as a few other dishes that are looking to be implemented into Alvernia’s dining options. Students were invited to test dishes that may be seen on the menu in the future and seemed more than eager to attend. Most of the eagerness has been attributed to the students distaste with the food currently being served. The student center cafeteria features traditional entrees, grilled items, a deli bar, a salad bar, a pizza station, and a “Showthyme” station where students can watch their food being prepared exhibition style.
Most dishes offered in the show cookery station are either made with rice, or pasta, or some sort of poultry. There are a variety of things to eat on any given day, and the hours are very workable around a college life, schoolwork, work, and classes. Weekend meals are a bit scarce on hours, but still effective nonetheless, with virtually the same food’s being available on the weekend that are served during the week. Yet, students still complain about the food, no matter how hard Aladdin works to please them. Junior men’s basketball standout, Nicholas Youngkin, expressed a thought many students will publicly share: “[The food is] pretty disappointing and well below the quality in which we pay for as students at Alvernia University.” When looking at the deeper issues with students, it may not be that the food is necessarily bad, but students want more of a variety in what is offered. Many students have complained that they have been eating the same meals on the same rotation since
to take any cups and plates that were brought back to residence halls by students back to the café. When they got full, an RA would take them back. For some reason it stopped, and Lee thinks it should be started back up again. In the meantime, all students need to be proactive. “If you see someone taking plates or cups outside of the café, be a leader and go stop them,” Lee said. “Tell them that they need to return the plates and cups because they aren’t yours, or get the food in a to-go wrap.” For the students who are taking the cups and plates, number one, do not do it. You are on the verge of forcing the entire student body that lives on campus to pay more money on something. Don’t be that way. Number two, if you do take your cups and plates back to your room, because of a certain situation, practice or whatever, have the courage and responsibility to walk
back to the café to return it. Dr. Ryan Lange, faculty advisor for the Alvernian, rolled his eyes in disgust at the entire situation. “I realize that it takes a lot out of people to walk all the way from the pods back to the student center to drop off two plates that were formerly occupied with French fries,” he said. “However, most of you could stand to get some more steps in.” “If you’re going to sit in your rooms and be bad at Apex Legends, the least you can do is make sure that you bus your own plates and cups before you end up bringing in ants.”
A stack of cups and plates sit inside of Village Four on the side of the RA desk.
they stepped foot on the the person who is behind the university’s campus. food at the university. Youngkin called for more Students who attend will student input involved with be entered in a raffle to win the choosing of the meals. a special three-course meal “I wish we had a say,” he with two of their friends, said. “Most of the time the cooked and prepared by food being served, no one Palmieri himself. wants, or we’re tired of eating it for the last three years. Since we pay so much to benefit the school, it’d be nice if the school would in turn look to benefit us.” In contrary to popular belief, there is something that can be done if you are disinterested in the food. Students can incorporate their opinions on what should be served in the cafeteria by submitting recipes on the Alvernia’s Dining Hall site (https://alvernia.edudine. com/dininghall) Though students believe there’s no possible change in the menu, submitting feedback may be the solution to the problem. Palmieri’s Chef’s Table event will become a monthly tradition at Alvernia, and it will give more students the opportunity to have an input of the meals being served at the university. Terry High is the chef that oversees the “Showthyme” station, It will also provide the and is a fan favorite here at Alvernia University, due to his students with an opportunity charismatic approach and smile-first approach with students. to meet and ask questions to Photo Courtesy of Ron Adams
Palmer Rodenhaber Contributing Writer
Photo Courtesy of Palmer Rodenhaber
Cup Caper Confounds Cafeteria
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CAMPUS NEWS
February/March 2019
Vol. 58 Issue 1
Do It for the Culture! Alvernia University has introduced Culture Fest. Culture Fest will be a series of events that promotes awareness of different cultures and celebrates diversity. Dr. Carrie Fitzpatrick, associate professor of communication, chairs the Cultural Studies Advisory Board. She saw Alvernia’s growing diverse population and sought to establish a more visible structure for inclusive, diverse programming. “No matter what interests or backgrounds students hold, the wide array of cultural events should offer something intriguing for everyone,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said. In fact, the Culture Fest has done a fantastic job at covering a large variety of topics. It mixes new events with successful past events
to create an inclusive and diverse lineup of programming. According to Dr. Fitzpatrick, she and the other members of the Cultural Studies Advisory Board have goals they wish to achieve. First, they hope to assist in campus efforts to improve event attendance, which has been a persistent challenge at Alvernia. The programming also should introduce students to Alvernia’s new minor in Cultural Studies. This year’s Culture Fest features a wide range of topics and perspectives. One of the events focuses on the civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., while others discuss topics like Carnivàle, which is a festive celebration of Spanish culture. A third seminar discusses natural hair, which is a movement centered in loving oneself, among other topics. Although some events have already passed, it is never too late to enjoy some of
the remaining events in the #CultureFestAU. Upcoming events include the Hot Club of Philadelphia and a couple faith-based events, like a “Celebration of Faith” and a lecture that will tackle one of faith’s biggest questions: Does religion do more to unite or divide Americans? The Celebration of Faith event welcomes people of all faiths to share their thoughts and opinions about spirituality. To keep the energy from spring break going, Alvernia University in conjunction with Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest will be hosting a concert by the Hot Club of Philadelphia, a “gypsy jazz”playing ensemble. The event is scheduled to welcome students back on Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Francis Hall Theatre. The event is free to Alvernia students. Alvernia launches this new program with the intention of spreading cultural recognition.
However, are there any plans for a Culture Fest next year? “Everyone is quite pleased with the events that were created for the pilot launch of CultureFestAU,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said. “We would like to see even more offerings next spring that are hosted by other
campus groups, clubs and departments.” Dr. Ryan Lange, associate professor of communication, agreed with Dr. Fitzpatrick. “Alvernia becomes stronger when we all work together to support the arts and culture that underpin our liberal arts tradition,” he said.
Photo Courtesy of Howard Pitkow
Khalil Eaddy Contributing Editor
L-R: The Hot Club of Philadelphia: Dan Pearce, Jim Stager, Barry Wahrhaftig, Joseph Arnold and Phyllis Chapell.
Ivan Fegely Contributing Writer
Photo Courtesy of Ivan Fegely
At Alvernia, Public Safety assists students with safety and transportation. First year students may not know the challenges of being on campus and dealing with Public Safety. Upperclassmen
have their own grievances and complaints about “pub safe,” particularly in the winter months. When it’s cold and icy, public safety becomes vital for safe transportation from parking areas and parts of campus. First year students often complain that parking
The public safety cars that are used to patrol and transport students, parked outside of the Student Center.
at either Ken Grill or Angelica makes for a headache when students come back later than the shuttle runs. A common complaint among students is that Public Safety is slow. Wait times of up to 30 minutes are not unheard of for a Public Safety car to bring a student to a part of campus. Nick Rosahac and Lucas Boyle, both first year students, found themselves in a strange competition. “I had to wait way longer than he did and I just parked at Angelica,” Rosahac said, relating that Boyle parked at Ken Grill and was able to more quickly get a ride back from campus. Resident students who regularly leave campus need to be aware of the shuttle schedule. The shuttle service at Alvernia only runs until 10:30 p.m. most nights, so if a student arrives later than that, calling Public Safety is necessary if the student wants to get back without walking. The recent “Polar Vortex” made walking difficult if not dangerous as temperatures went far below freezing. Students have proposed that the university keep more officers on duty after the
Photo Courtesy of Ivan Fegely
Students Endure Delays in Cold
The Public Safety office located on the second floor in the Student Center.
shuttle stops running, or to run the shuttle longer into the night on weekends. However, extending the hours of the shuttle or hiring more officers would cost money. The shuttle running longer would mean either longer hours for the already impossible shifts the drivers work or hiring more drivers. Shuttle drivers already complain of long hours and never having off. Longer hours for the already impossible shifts the drivers work would seem to be the
solution if the university cannot hire more drivers. It may be that students take the shuttle drivers for granted. Driver shifts can be as long as 10 hours. The drivers also go through more headaches than long shifts. If a shuttle bus breaks down, the driver has to call it in to be serviced. When shuttles break down, the remainder of the fleet picks up the slack. Fortunately, warmer weather lies ahead in the Pennsylvania forecast.
CAMPUS NEWS
February/March 2019
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The PLEX, Alvernia University’s newest expansion, is by far the largest addition to our campus. The building sits on roughly 15 acres of land taking up 100,000 square feet between the front of campus and Angelica Park. It could be completed in time for some of the spring sports to use the facilities. The PLEX will feature classrooms, a weight room, and an athletic training room
suited for the sports medicine program. The largest space in the PLEX will be the fieldhouse, which includes a track and several regulation sized basketball courts able to accommodate any of our 27 athletic teams and intramurals. Additionally, the PLEX will also be able to be the setting for any club or to host a large capacity for Alvernia events. “With all of the obvious training benefits in a state of the art facility, our players can walk out of our team room right to the field.” Yogi
This is the front of PLEX, where the shuttle stop will be located.
Photo Courtesy of Matthew Brennan
Matthew Brennan Contributing Writer
Luttz said, anticipating the final construction days of the complex. His office, alongside all other coaches’ offices, will be relocated into the complex. The PLEX will free these coaches from the trailer alongside the Physical Education Center. The PLEX will also make it simpler to schedule times for practices and other sporting events. The base structure was completed in September of 2018 with the placement of the final beam filled with signatures. The building will also feature a number of locker rooms to accommodate teams using the facility or down in Angelica Park playing games or matches. There will be a decent number of parking spaces, as well as a shuttle stop for students traveling to or from campus. Students aren’t the only ones benefiting from the
Photo Courtesy of Matthew Brennan
Meet the Tom and Helen Flynn PLEX
Structural foundation of the complex taken in spring of 2018.
PLEX. Professors and coaches any other athletes during will be given a number of practice or at designated office spaces in the academic times. wing and around the It seemed like not too fieldhouse. long ago when people were The fieldhouse will feature talking about how we were four full length basketball going to tear down a large courts. This space will benefit block of residential houses all athletic teams due to the and build the PLEX. At the fact that there is so much time, it seemed impossible to more space for activity than complete it within two years. the Physical Education Center. “I’m hoping that the new There will also be a sixparking lot will help ease lane track surrounding the some of the crunch here courts, which will be used to in the mornings,” Dr. Ryan support track use and varsity Lange, faculty advisor for the competitions, as well as for Alvernian, said.
Are you passionate? Do you care about anything?? Then show us what you know. Join the Alvernian today!
8 February/March 2019
CLUBS Vol. 58 Issue 1
Fishing for a Way to Get More Involved on Campus? Chelsea Dziamba Contributing Editor Do you like to go fishing and want to get more involved on campus? The Alvernia University Fishing Club (AUFC) was created in the 2016-2017 school year by Bryce Miceli, junior, Ryan Driscoll, junior, and William Lazdins, junior. “One day Ryan, Will and I were getting ready to go fishing and we just thought it would be cool to start a fishing club here,” Miceli, AUFC president, said. “We all love the outdoors and figured since we are in an outdoor hub like Berks County, there would be more students that enjoy fishing as well.” These three friends acted to create the club. “We asked around to figure out who to talk to about starting it up, and that lead us to Abby Swatchick,” Miceli said. After making a constitution and getting the club idea
approved, the Alvernia University Fishing Club was born. The Fishing Club accepts everyone into the club, no matter what skill level. AUFC is just a fun way to enjoy the hobby of fishing and the outdoors with friends and other members. The club board and other experienced members will help you with casting, setting up lures, and unhooking the fish. Don’t let your skill level of fishing defeat you. The Fishing Club accepts everyone’s request to join. This is a great way to learn and reel up your level of fishing! The club fishes anywhere from Lake Ontelaunee to Blue Marsh, Antietam Lake, and French Creek. Meetings for the club happen once a month. Emails are sent with a time and place to inform the members where to meet. During this time, the club goes over information, sets dates to go fishing, discuss
fundraisers, and brainstorms ideas on things like how to expand the club further or what to purchase fishing wise to increase member activity. Fish that are caught by the members of the club are either released or kept and eaten. Depending on the season and what is being caught, some of the team members take their edible catches home to fillet if they are of legal size, such as trout or crappie. The Fishing Club is looking to expand. Currently the club board is in the process of getting their club logo approved by the Student Government Association. The logo has been sent to Student Activities, and from there the marketing team is responsible for getting the word out. The club hopes more people are going to join the fun! Staff members who love fishing also want to get involved.
“It is really great to see that so many people want to be involved in the club,” Chelsea Dziamba, AUFC secretary, said. “We as a board hope to get shirts and other merchandise made soon so we can advertise more. When I mention to people that Alvernia even has a fishing club they look shocked, so hopefully more of a word gets around so more people can join.” The board of the AUFC includes Bryce Miceli as president, Ryan Driscoll as vice president, William
Lazdins as budget manager, and Chelsea Dziamba as secretary. You can join the AUFC by going to the PAX page and searching Alvernia University Fishing Club. There is also an Instagram page that you can follow to check out some of the awesome fish that are caught. The page is @au _fishing. If you have any questions regarding the club, please feel free to email the AUFC president Bryce Miceli at bryce.miceli@alvernia. edu or AUFC club secretary Chelsea Dziamba at chelsea. dziamba@alvernia.edu.
Scan to check out their Instagram page.
Scan for the PAX page.
Sidney Goodman Contributing Writer
Photo Courtesy of Sidney Goodman
Every incoming firstyear student faces the same problem: How do I make friends with the least amount of awkward conversation possible? Of course, roommates and students living on the same floor tend to bond quickly, but what about those students that are not as outgoing, or those who commute? How are they going to integrate themselves more concretely into campus life? The answer to this age-old question is found in student clubs. Alvernia University is adding a new club to its list – the Writing Wolves Club. This
project has been in the works since last summer and has finally been approved by the SGA. While it has not yet had its first meeting, the club has a page on PAX with several eager members signed up. This club will provide an amazing opportunity for likeminded people to write about things that matter to them. Students will learn and grow together as they reach into their own pool of creativity to produce and share pieces with their club members. Birthed from the mind of Alvernia’s local literary guru, Dr. Tom Bierowski, the idea was quickly picked up by enthusiastic students and carried onward. Michael Beyer, the club’s president,
The Writing Wolves Club hopes to bring new literary appreciation to Alvenrnia’s campus.
created the constitution and attended student president meetings, as well as writing the ever-important mission statement: “To create an environment where students can share and improve each other’s work.” Beyer enjoys helping others improve their writing and wants to see the club reflect that passion. He also has a vision for the club’s future. “I see the club becoming a place where writers can make friends and make progress in their writing,” he said. “I don’t believe it’ll become a huge club, but rather a small intimate club where everyone knows each other’s name and face.” Dr. Tom himself is excited for the budding organization. “Sky’s the limit,” he said. “Over the last couple years, a student here and there, few and far between, would mention the interest in a writer’s club, and this is the first time that it’s happened in the fourteen years that I’ve been here. It came from the students.” While Dr. Tom is overflowing with ideas for the new club, he is primarily interested in how the students make names for
Photo Courtesy of Sidney Goodman
New Club In Town: The Writing Wolves
A few popular books that the club could read, and a coffee cup to represent their love for the drink.
themselves. He is dedicated to creating an environment for them in which they can thrive. “I want the members of the Writing Wolves to be known for their interest in writing,” he said. “I want to make a big deal about this first cohort, to have them be remembered as the Lewis and Clark of the Alvernia writing scene.” First-year student Hailey Newell was excited for new opportunities to write. “I joined the Writer’s Club because I love to write creatively and expressively
and it’s something that I don’t get enough of,” Newell said. “I think that the club will contribute a place where people can relax from homework and stress for a bit. It will be a place where they can write whatever they feel to get out of their heads for a little while.” For more information about the Writing Wolves, check out its page on PAX or reach out to club president Michael Beyer.