2
Penn State Beaver Roar
News
March 2016
Big changes coming to fall registration LionPATH is replacing eLion as the new online student information and enrollment system BRIANNA RICE Staff Writer
bmr5418@psu.edu
Fall registration begins after spring break, and Penn State Beaver students can expect some big changes. Penn State University adopted a new registration process, which will be used this March when students register for their fall 2016 classes, said Dan Pinchot, director of enrollment. This new one-step process will be done through LionPATH, Penn State’s new Web-based system that will be replacing eLion in the fall, said Pinchot. The difference between the new and the old process is that students are officially enrolled when they schedule their classes as opposed to when they pay their bill, said Pinchot. This new process will require students to annually consent to doing business with the university electronically, said Pinchot. Following that, students will have to sign a Financial Responsibility Agreement (FRA) each semester, which shows that they have accepted the responsibility for payment of their bill, and then they will be able to schedule classes, said Pinchot. All of this will be done via LionPATH. According to Diane Hunt, staff assistant in the finance office, scheduling classes through LionPATH will be a lot like buying something on Amazon. “Students will go in and put
classes into their ‘cart.’ As soon as they ‘checkout,’ their bill will be generated and they will be enrolled, just like that,” said Hunt. According to Jeremy Lindner, director of Housing and Food Services, this new enrollment process will also affect students who are planning to move into Harmony Hall. “With the current process, a student is required to make one payment to get to registered status to reside in Harmony Hall past 30 days. So if you have a schedule, you can move into the dorms, but then will have 30 days to get to registered status. Otherwise, the student will have to move back out,” said Lindner. “But with the new process, students are immediately put into registered status upon scheduling. So once they have their schedule they can move into the hall and live there [all semester], regardless of whether or not they have made a payment,” Lindner added. According to Pinchot, obtaining this new registration process was in part driven by the new LionPATH system. “LionPATH does it this way, and most colleges do it this way,” Pinchot said. “It just makes sense to do business like this, and students will find the process easier to use.” The concern? Faculty and staff are worried that students will not pay attenNew registration process See Page 3
Graphic Courtesy of Penn State
LionPATH: What you need to know Beginning in 2016, Penn State students will start to see some changes in the way they do business with the University. Starting in February, LionPATH has begun to replace eLion as the new student information system, and by December, LionPATH will be a one-stop-shop to enroll in courses, check grades, pay tuition bills and more. Below are some of the changes to look for.
CONSENT TO DO BUSINESS ELECTRONICALLY
Users must consent to do University business electronically before using LionPATH. This includes accepting financial aid, enrolling for classes and paying tuition bills.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT (FRA)
Students must sign the FRA prior to enrolling in classes each semes-
ter. The FRA is a promise to take financial responsibility for payment of your account.
NEW ENROLLMENT PROCESS
Students will add courses to an online shopping cart and click “enroll” when ready. LionPATH updates See Page 3
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
3
Fresh Canvas: Penn State adopts new online course system VASIL J. KRONSTEIN Staff Writer
vkk5041@psu.edu
The way students submit online assignments, take online tests and read professor-submitted material is changing drastically at Penn State. Canvas is being put to the test by a group of instructors who have volunteered to use it during the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters. After a semester and a half, the Canvas guinea pigs say they are enjoying the new program. Multiple faculty members – including English Instructor Tiffany MacQuarrie and Assistant Professor of Biology Cassandra Miller-Butterworth – have subjected themselves to the program in order to provide feedback as well as a hands-on review of the new Course Management System (CMS). Last summer, Penn State announced that it was changing its CMS from Angel to a new program called Canvas. The university hopes
The Roar/Ty Cole
English Instructor Tiffany MacQuarrie demonstrates the use of Canvas in class.
that Canvas will help students and teachers communicate and work together in a much more efficient way, according to a Penn State press release. MacQuarrie and Butterworth quickly leaped at the opportunity to give Canvas a try. “I just love how responsive the whole program is,” said MacQuar-
New registration process impacts students’ financial responsibilities Continued from Page 2
tion to the information that is being put out for them. If students simply ignore this new process, they could find themselves unable to schedule for next semester’s classes, said Beth Hewitt, assistant to the financial officer. This is because if a student simply neglects the Consent to Do Business and the FRA and does not pay the bill, LionPATH will not allow that student to schedule for classes the following semester or will even cancel a schedule that was already made, Hewitt said. Pinchot said it’s an important change that students need to pay attention to. “I don’t know how to make students aware of this. It’s not sexy. It’s procedural and bureaucratic in nature. But it is serious and impor-
tant, and I hope that students will pay attention to it,” said Pinchot. Students who are beginning to hear about the new process seem to be supportive. “I think these changes will really simplify the registration process,” said freshman Lucas Vankeuren after learning about it. “I don’t really see any downside to it except that it will be confusing for students who don’t know what is going on,” Vankeuren added. Sophomore Madison Becker agreed. “I like the new process because I think it will be more streamlined. There’s less room for people to wiggle in and out of paying tuition and still be enrolled,” Becker said. “And if LionPATH is going to fix all the little quirks that come with eLion, then that would be fantastic,” Becker added.
rie. “Grade changes are instantaneous and the program as a whole is much easier to use.” “Everything looks much nicer and it’s now much easier to find things,” said Butterworth. “Grading and recording attendance has been much easier, too.” They both spoke positively about how the CMS caters to modern
America’s youth. In today’s world, many college students are infatuated with, if not addicted to, their mobile devices. The mobile app adds a level of convenience that Angel never touched on, MacQuarrie said. Many students openly admit that they do not regularly check their Penn State Webmail accounts. Now, cell phone notifications from the application consistently help to remind students about their classwork. “The phone app has worked really well for me,” said sophomore Guido Palombo. “It’s nice to have. No problems with it all so far. It’s great.” “The app is probably my favorite thing about it,” MacQuarrie explained. “Not many students take the time to sit down, start a computer up and check their e-mail. It’s that simple. Now, a kid’s phone will beep and they can see exactly what is due and when it needs to be turned in.” Butterworth whole-hearted-
ly agrees that the application is an essential and helpful tool that students can take advantage of. Ease of use is another major factor in Canvas’ favor. Many students say that Angel, at times, was confusing to navigate and work with. The opposite has been said about Canvas. “On a scale of one to 10 based on ease of use, I would give it an eight,” said high school dual enrollment student Sean Maravich. “The assignments and lecture notes are easy to find, and everything works pretty well.” MacQuarrie also raved about Canvas’ smaller features, like the calendar and the student pictures. “Whenever I add an assignment, it’s automatically added to my calendar on the assigned date. It just keeps everything very organized and it’s so helpful,” MacQuarrie said. “The I.D. pictures next to students’ names are pretty cool, too. It helps a lot when it comes to learning kids’ names.”
LionPATH updates class enrollment structure Continued from Page 2
SCHEDULE BUILDER
Students will select courses, and LionPATH’s functionality allows the option of adding scheduled breaks. Users will request possible schedules to be generated and can choose from different schedules and select the best option.
WAIT LIST REPLACES WATCH LIST
The wait list feature in LionPATH will replace the watch list function in eLion. Students can choose to enroll in the wait list when a class is full. The wait list is like a line. When a seat becomes open, the student at the top of the list is enrolled in the class and everyone moves up a spot.
PREREQUISITE ENFORCEMENT
Plans are being finalized to check information sciences and technol-
ogy and certain math courses for required prerequisites. If students don’t meet the prerequisites, they won’t be able to enroll in the class. Students can request an exception.
CHANGE IN DELEGATION PROCESS
If students would like a parent or guardian to have access to see financial aid, bills, grades, etc. for fall 2016 and beyond, they will have to give delegated access in LionPATH, even if they previously had given permission to do so in eLion. Financial aid actions The “Student Center” provides a centralized place where students can view financial aid awards, accept/ decline the awards and see the actions needed to complete this process for financial aid and other Penn State offices.
MOBILE APP
A mobile app allows students to
check their schedule, view classes, search for courses, review billing status, view grades, check financial aid, see “to do” items and check for account holds.
UPDATE ACADEMICS
LionPATH replaces the entranceto-major process as well as paper forms to add or change majors, options and minors. It allows students to see what is available at their current campus, and requests to update can be submitted when a decision has been made and the requirements have been met. Student will use LionPATH to request additional majors, options and minors. LionPATH will take effect for fall 2016 enrollment. Students who plan to take classes during the summer will still enroll through eLion. More information: launch.lionpath.psu.edu. From Penn State News
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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
March 2016
Sanders, Trump win campus Beaver casts votes in mock primary election EVAN PINCHOT Staff Writer
emp197@psu.edu
If Penn State Beaver’s students, faculty and staff are any indication of who will be the presidential nominees, then the country will be looking at decisive primary victories by both Sen. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. In a mock election held by The Roar Feb. 19, students cast 105 ballots while another 13 came from faculty and staff during this one-hour polling over common hour. On the Democratic side, Sanders came out on top, with 66 votes against his opponent, Hillary Clinton, who scored 12. On the Republican ballot, Trump came out as the clear victor, attaining 24 votes while his closest competitors, Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. John Kasich, had only 14 votes each. The unscientific poll also showed that roughly two-thirds of the students who cast ballots at Beaver campus plan to vote in the primary election, which will be held April 26 in Pennsylvania. Of those 105 students who voted, 29 labeled themselves Republicans, 34 said they were Democrats and 29 identified as independents. Students were asked to choose candidates for both parties, regardless of their political affiliation. Students who identified as Republicans clearly supported Trump on the Republican side, as he got 14 of the 29 votes. The next closest vote getters for the Republican ballot were Cruz and Kasich who both got 5 votes. The most important issues among the Republican students who voted were the economy and jobs, with 14 votes, and government spending, with 10 votes. Freshman Christian Sepos was
The Roar/Khaila Adams
Students vote during the mock primary election held in the Bistro on Feb. 19.
PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS Candidate
All Students
Among Democrats
Among Independents
Among Republicans
Faculty/Staff
Bernie Sanders
66
27
21
18
4
Hillary Clinton
12
7
4
1
6
Donald Trump
24
4
6
14
3
Ted Cruz
14
5
4
5
2
John Kasich
14
5
4
5
1
Marco Rubio
12
5
5
2
2
Jeb Bush
9
6
3
0
0
Ben Carson
9
1
6
2
2
one of the many students who participated in the election and is strongly Republican. Sepos said he will be voting for Trump.
“I’ve read several of his books, and I believe he’s an extremely smart man and he knows what he is doing,” he said.
It seemed like this was the general consensus of Trump supporters, such as student Dan Vanderslice, who said he plans to vote for Trump
as well. Vanderslice, who identifies as an independent, said that he supports Trump based on the way he plans to deal with the issue of immigration. And Vanderslice, just like many other Trump supporters, said he is attracted to him by the way that Trump seems to make everyone mad from the things that he says. Students who identified themselves as Democrats overwhelmingly supported Sanders over Clinton. Sanders won 27 Democratic votes while Clinton garnered just 7. The most important issues for student Democrats in this election were very clear: the economy, income inequality and government spending. Sophomore Jordan Stobart is a Democrat and is voting for Sanders in this upcoming election. Stobart, a Roar staff member, says he supports Sanders’ idea of socialism and Students See Page 5
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
5
Trump gets mixed reviews on campus NITA WILLIAMS Staff Writer
new5130@psu.edu
With the primary elections in high gear across the country, political conversations have become the big buzz around Penn State Beaver. Students left and right throw out their opinions on parties, candidates and who is most likely to come out on top, while class discussions inevitably turn to politics. Republican candidate Donald Trump is supported by many students around campus. Senior Steven Mengel is a Libertarian Republican who likes Trump because he is not controlled by lobbyists. Sophomore Republican Ben Smith agrees. “I like where Trump wants to go. I just don’t like how he wants to get there.” Freshman Ryan Terabasso identifies with the independent party and stays up-to-date with political debates and elections. He said he believes Trump will clinch the Republican candidacy as the rest of
the roster fails to produce someone as strong-willed and bold as Trump is. Not everyone is happy with Trump, however. Many people around campus say they are disgusted with the amount of support he’s reeling in. Freshman Austin Schorr is conservative and said Trump is not refined enough to be president. He supports Sen. Ted Cruz on the Republican ballot. Dominic Fontaine is a registered Democratic and is not thrilled with his own ballot, but said he would support Sen. Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton. Many students on campus say they are steering clear of politics altogether. Sophomore Brandee Robinson is not registered to vote because she believes her vote is insignificant to the big picture. Freshman Nicholas Pelino is not registered to vote either, but when asked to choose a candidate he said he leans more towards Trump. Neither plan to register to vote for this
election. Campus staff and faculty also show a mix of opinions. Michael Hay, associate professor of chemistry, is a conservative Republican who does not favor the socialism expressed by Democratic candidates. He related what the idea of socialism would be like if practiced in the classroom, asking how fair it would be to take credit from students that earned A’s and B’s and give it to those who received F’s so that everyone in class could pass. “The Democrats want to raise that bottom tier, while we, as Republicans, want to raise everybody’s level,” he said. Hay said he supports Cruz because he is not afraid to express his conservative views. Paula Carlin, a cashier in the Bistro, is a registered Democrat, but she said she does not have one clear-cut favorite of the candidates. She said she’ll probably end up voting for Clinton. “There’s nothing really positive about any of them,” she said.
(AP Photo/David Goldman)
Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a primary night rally, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. At his side are his wife Melania Trump, left, and daughter Ivanka Trump, right.
Students react on jobs, gov’t spending, healthcare Continued from Page 4
says that he is a huge supporter of his plan for free college. Of the 105 students who voted, 29 students identified themselves as Independents. These voters also supported Sanders in an overwhelming fashion, as he got 21 votes, with Dr. Ben Carson and Trump tying for second with 6 votes each. The issues most important to independent voters varied a lot more, as many voters chose a write-in option not on the ballot. Even so, the top two issues among these voters were the economy and jobs, with 12 votes, and income inequality, with 7. Freshman Breanna Pancottini, an Independent voter who leans toward the Republicans, said that she will be supporting Sanders this year.
“Bernie wants to benefit us all,” Pancottini said. “We need a woman running, but we don’t need Hillary.” Of the 13 faculty and staff who voted, four identified as Republicans and nine as Democrats. Clinton garnered six faculty and staff votes to Sander’s four. Trump picked up three votes. Gail Gray, student aid coordinator, said that she is a registered Democrat and will be voting for Clinton this year. “She has the strongest character to go up against the Republicans.” Kelly Marcello, manager of Housing and Food Services, also voted in the mock election. Marcello is a Democrat who isn’t a big fan of either of the Democratic candidates, but she said she would rather see one of the Democrats win than any of the
Republican candidates. Marcello said she struggled over who to support and has chosen Clinton. The Roar also asked students how likely they would be to vote, to some surprising results. Of the 105 who cast a mock ballot, 63 students – 60 percent – said they were registered to vote. Many more also stopped by and registered to vote with the help of the Student Government Association, which provided voter registration forms in the Bistro during the mock election. Of the 105 students, regardless of whether they were registered to vote or not, 38 said that they will definitely be voting this year and another 35 said they were likely to vote. Just nine students said that there was no way that they would be voting in this election.
POLITICAL ISSUES Issue
All Students
Among Dem.
Among Ind.
Among Rep.
Jobs/Economy
50
24
12
14
Gov’t Spending
34
20
4
10
Immigration
23
14
4
5
Healthcare
20
17
0
3
Income Ineq
30
21
7
2
Nat’l Security/ Terrorism
26
14
4
8
6
Penn State Beaver Roar
News
March 2016
As construction concludes, lab begins in the MBB JULIE WORST
Senior Staff Writer jaw6062@psu.edu
Sophomore Amiben Bhagat said it was actually intimidating the first time she walked into her organic chemistry class this semester in the Michael Baker Building. “After walking through an obvious construction site, I stepped foot into an amazing, colorful transformation. There were bright lights and windows everywhere. It feels like I am in an exhibit at the zoo,” Bhagat said. Welcomed by the sights and sounds of ongoing construction, six Chemistry 213 students use the organic chemistry lab every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Michael Baker is beginning the final stages of its $10 million renovation, which started last May. The organic chemistry lab, hallway, restrooms and lab storage space are all able to be used now. “The lab has a 21st century look,” said sophomore Sam Younes. He was excited to see the progress but even more thrilled to use the brand new lab space. Sophomore Randy Meskow said
The Roar/Kate Serna
Chemistry Instructor Claudia Tanaskovic oversees her students, from left, Riley Marshall, Ami Bhagat, Tyler Logue and Derrek Wilder as they perform distillation in the Michael Baker Building’s new chemistry lab.
he was impressed with how efficient the lab seemed to be. “There are a ton of places to put equipment, but the best part is having room for our belongings that is out of our way,” Meskow said since using the new lab. In the other labs on campus, belongings are placed under the
workbench and have the potential to be in the way while performing experiments. Students aren’t the only ones thrilled with the new lab. “Having the lecture benches in the middle and the fume hoods on the outside of the lab makes it easier to lecture and work,” said Claudia
Tanaskovic, instructor in chemistry. The organic chemistry lab needed to be open for the spring semester because there is no other lab on campus that has enough ventilation hoods for the class. “The ventilation hoods are essential for organic chemistry experiments to take place because when
the organic chemicals are mixed, the fumes contain carcinogens. The fume hoods also have clear glass screens that help to protect the students working in the fume hood,” Tanaskovic said. Not only do the students like that they are working in a brand new lab, they have taken notice of other changes in the building. “I like that [the building] is very open and happy looking,” sophomore Rylie Marshall said. The lab was designed to be very open compared to the old lab. Tanaskovic is now able to see all of the students working at one time. “The design is much safer,” Tanaskovic said. The contractors have not faced any major issues and renovations are on time, said Adam Rathbun, director of finance and business. “The building is on target to be complete at the end of May.” When finished, the building will house offices and classroom space for physics, engineering, communications, information sciences and technology, general and organic chemistry, and a one button studio.
Students are unhappy over computer lab space and quality MARIA ROGERS Staff Writer
mrr5425@psu.edu
The number of computer labs on campus has dropped since the renovation of the Michael Baker Building began late last spring, but that's not the only reason students are having issues with campus computers. Before the renovation, there were eight computer labs on campus; now there are six. The information technology computer lab, which was originally in the MBB, was relocated to the basement of the library to help supplement the loss of computer labs. “Everyone on this campus uses a computer lab to some capacity,” said
The Roar/ Maria Rogers
Room 102 in the Laboratory Classroom Building is used for class and general lab space. Students struggle to find lab space between classes.
Carey McDougall, interim chancellor and chief academic officer. Some students have found it difficult to find times to use the computers for studying. “With so many
classes scheduled in the computer labs this semester, it's hard to get time to use them as much as most engineering students need,” said sophomore Guido Palombo.
The lack in student access to the labs this semester is only part of the problem. The quality of the computers available to use is also an issue, according to many students. “These computers are so retro they remind me of my mixtape days,” said sophomore Christian Dunn about the computers in Laboratory Classroom Building 102. Sophomore Noah Repman agreed with Dunn. “The computers here do happen to be very slow.” “It all comes down to money,” said Ted Froats, director of information technology. “Every Penn State student pays an information technology fee, which is put toward a couple different things like the quality and
the software of the computer labs.” “The University only has a certain amount of money to put toward things like computer maintenance, student lab workers, supplies and an overall network maintenance fee. Student feedback is really important in making the decision of what the money should be used for,” said McDougall. To help make those decisions, Penn State has an Information Technology Committee. “The committee gets proposals from the members who represent the students and faculty in their technology needs, then the committee votes on the proposals and the results are taken to the chancellor for consideration,” said Froats.
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
7
Chancellor search continues
“
McDougall assumes role of interim chancellor
“This is a very attractive campus to be involved at. We just need to find that one right person that likes us as much as we like them.”
Donna Kuga
KATIE MIHELARAKIS
Former Interim Chancellor
Staff Writer
kxm5539@psu.edu
After nearly two years of work and two unsuccessful searches, Penn State Beaver could receive a new permanent chancellor by the fall. The campus posted the chancellor position nationally in January for the third time after the appointed candidate unexpectedly withdrew her acceptance over the holiday break. For now, the position of interim chancellor has been filled by Carey McDougall. McDougall, previously the director of Academic Affairs, took over the post Feb. 1 after Interim Chancellor Donna Kuga’s retirement at the end of January. The position has been in a somewhat transitory state since the late Gary Keefer retired after serving 18 years as chancellor of the campus. Keefer died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) last December. After he left the position, Kuga was appointed interim chancellor while a committee sought out new candidates. The first search failed after none of the candidates brought in to interview were deemed acceptable. However, the successor that had been decided upon through the second search process, Lillian Schumacher of Tiffin University in Ohio, declined the chancellorship after she had initially accepted the position. “We had a successful candidate, and that candidate had an opportunity to not have to relocate because her institution offered her a position very late in the game,” said Kuga, now retired. In order to begin her job at Beaver on Feb. 1, 2016, Schumacher would have had to be temporarily separated from her family in the relocation
Penn State Beaver photos by Cathy Benscoter
Leo Takahashi, assistant professor of physics, speaks at former Chancellor Gary B. Keefer’s memorial service Jan. 15. Keefer died on Dec. 12 after a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). With 18 years tenure, Keefer was the longest-serving chancellor in the history of Penn State Beaver. Below, Paula Keefer, center, sits with her daughter-in-law Tina Keefer; her father, Ray Fisher; and her Pastor Scott Graham at the memorial service. The campus’ search for a new chancellor continues.
process from Ohio to Pennsylvania. “She had another opportunity that was beneficial for her own career and her family,” said McDougall.
The previous chancellor search committee has been charged with seeking out a new successor for the third time. According to Associate
Professor of History Robert Szymczak, the chairman of the committee, its first meeting took place Feb. 17. Szymczak said that advertisements for the job position have been released. He expects that in response the committee will receive resumes from applicants so that they can soon begin the interviewing process. “We will have to look at all of them when they come in,” said Szymczak. According to Szymczak, the task of interviewing candidates contains many levels of consideration and may consist of multiple interviews conducted both virtually and in person. “They’ll start reviewing applications, and then they’ll have either phone or video conference calls,” McDougall said. “And then if candidates rise through that process, they’ll have on-campus interviews.”
Chancellor is the most senior position on Penn State campuses, and there are several important tasks each chancellor must oversee in their work. “They need to develop community partnerships, such that we can foster relationships for internships, for feedback on our programs,” McDougall said. “They also have a team of directors, and they need to be able to help support those directors and their initiatives.” McDougall stressed the financial importance and seemingly endless responsibilities of the job. “They need to help the development director develop funds. The job kind of goes on and on,” she said. During their meetings, the search committee will be looking for specific qualities and skills in the interviewees that would help them fulfill these duties, making them an effective chancellor of this campus. “They have to have a commitment to academic rigor so that our students and faculty can be successful,” McDougall said. She also recommends that they “have a commitment to life outside of classes so that we can have a diverse culture on campus and expose students to experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise experience.” The committee hopes to make a final hiring decision by July 1. Kuga said she believes that if all goes according to plan, there will be no problem finding a worthy successor to the chancellorship. “This is a very attractive campus to be involved at,” said Kuga. “We just need to find that one right person that likes us as much as we like them.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
News
March 2016
Budget breakdown Penn State students and administrators feel the effects of a political stalemate that calls for an urgent resolution CHRIS ROTONDO Staff Writer
ctr5138@psu.edu
Penn State is facing a $300 million budget shortfall because of the ongoing 2015-16 budget battle in Harrisburg, and the university is now bracing for the possibility of not receiving any appropriation this year, according to university leaders. Since the beginning of the fiscal year in July 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and Pennsylvania’s Republican legislature have been at odds with each other in what has become the longest budget stalemate in Pennsylvania history. The lack of a fiscal budget has affected the state in many ways, including education at Penn State, the largest state-related university in Pennsylvania. Without a state budget, Penn State has not received one dime in state support this fiscal year. While an emergency budget plan was released by Wolf in December in order to temporarily fund Pennsylvania’s K-12 public schools, as well as Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) grants, both the university and its students have felt the impact of the stalemate. “We must begin planning for the previously unthinkable possibility that Penn State may be forced to operate without any appropriation from the commonwealth,” said Provost Nicholas Jones and David Gray, senior vice president for finance and business, in an email sent to faculty and staff on Feb. 22. The email says the university is developing a contingency plan for this year and next, including eliminating unnecessary business travel and curtailing spending wherever possible. “Though these actions will not come close to solving the full budget shortfall, they will help and assist us
to both assess potential impacts as well as inform our decision making should a major rescission be necessary,” the email says. About 6 percent of Penn State’s budget comes from Pennsylvania’s annual fiscal plan, according to Adam Rathbun, Penn State Beaver’s director of finance and business. This money goes toward programs, classes and many other operations. Despite these setbacks, Penn State Beaver’s budget has not yet been affected by the stalemate, Rathbun said before the Jones and Gray email was sent. Rathbun said that the campuses’ projects are going forward as planned, including the renovation of the Michael Baker Building. Future projects, however, have not yet been secured. Many students have felt an effect from the budget stalemate because the state grant agency wasn’t able to distribute any funds until January. “I have a hard enough time paying for school as it is,” said sophomore Ryan Pinto, who had to wait for his financial aid refund. “These refunds are what keep me going during school.” In November, Penn State decided to give in-state students the grant funds that are usually funded by the Pennsylvania government until the money is received from the state grant agency. This allowed fall refunds to process in late November, and refunds for the spring semester have recently been processed. “It is a hardship for us,” said Gail Gray, student aid and veterans coordinator. “I don’t want students to be in financial trouble because of this.” Gray supported the university’s decision to front the grant money, even though the delay is not Penn State’s fault. “The university has been flexible with how to deal with students,” Gray said. “This makes students live
in uncertainty, and that is not right.” Pinto, who will be attending classes at University Park next semester, is worried about the stalemate affecting his finances on campus. “It will be difficult especially since I will be away from home,” he said. Penn State President Eric Barron has been fighting to help bring a resolution to the stalemate. He has personally met with both Democratic and Republican leaders in Harrisburg to display the financial stress that the stalemate has put on the university. “We soon will have no choice but to take explicit measures to reduce our risk rather than walk up to the brink of what should be unthinkable,” Barron said on his blog, Digging Deeper. He added that Penn State continues to have an important effect on the state of Pennsylvania. Barron, who has stayed politically neutral in his discussions with Pennsylvania lawmakers, reportedly told the university board of trustees in February that his administration intends to support Wolf’s proposed 5 percent appropriation increase for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 budgets, according to Penn Live. The university, however, will not lobby for the tax package to avoid partisanship, despite calls from the Wolf Administration to be more vocal. However, Barron, along with the leaders of Pennsylvania’s three other state-related universities – Pitt, Temple and Lincoln – all jointly authored a editorial that ran in several Pennsylvania newspapers calling for elected officials to end the stalemate and pass a budget, including an appropriate for higher education. “It’s frustrating because it’s all politics,” Rathbun said. “They work for us, and it’s us who are suffering,” Gray said. Despite the setbacks, Gray added, “I believe that this will be straightened out soon.”
Photo by Maria Rogers
A retro space heater is plugged into an electrical outlet in the ladies restroom of the General Classroom Building.
Students get heated over cold air in GCB
KATE SERNA Staff Writer
kys5434@psu.edu
Recent harsh winter weather is highlighting the need for an updated heating system in the General Classroom Building (GCB). “After walking across campus in 20-degree weather, I’m anxious to feel heat from a building. I don’t feel that when I walk into the GCB,” senior Lamont Wright said. Freshman Zhiyao Jia agreed. “I have left a class without having feeling in my hands. I should be able to wear a sweater to class without feeling like I’m outside.” According to David Hunt, campus physical plant supervisor, an inadequate heating system was installed in 1999 due to budget constraints. The system can’t heat all of the rooms at the same time, so sensors are used to turn on the heat when someone enters a room. Until then, the heat is off. In addition, there is no heat run to the GCB bathrooms or hallways. Junior Nicholas Good-
bread expressed his discomfort. “I’m freezing. I think there is a 10-degree difference from a classroom to a hallway.” A retro space heater plugged into an electrical outlet supplements heat in the women’s restroom. A space heater is not present in the men’s restroom. “I don’t even know why the space heater is in the women’s restroom. It doesn’t do anything and seems to be more of a safety hazard than a solution,” said senior Haley Goonen. “It’s ridiculous that I have to be cold. I pay too much money to be here.” Hunt said a project is “in the works” for the replacing the system. Once approved by University Park, it will be funded by the branch of Commonwealth Services. Hunt said he is not optimistic the project will get funded anytime soon. “To be perfectly honest, the way things go around here it could take up to five years for the project to move through the process it needs to go through,” Hunt said.
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
9
Lack of fundraising costs Beaver dancers JORDAN STOBART Staff Writer
jjs6330@psu.edu
Many Penn State Beaver students might be disappointed to learn that no campus dancers attended this year’s Penn State Dance MaraTHON. Campus THON organizers would not disclose the amount, other than to acknowledge that in 2015, the committee fell short and did not reach the goal needed to send dancers to University Park. This is the first time in five years that Penn State Beaver dancers were not present. This year, THON weekend took place Feb. 19 to 21 at University Park in the Bryce Jordan Center and raised nearly $9.8 million, more than $3 million less than the previous year. The event raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital to support the fight against pediatric cancer. Associate Director of Student Affairs Amy Gartley said last year’s fundraisers were canning weekends, thonvelopes, a date auction and a volleyball tournament. These events yielded half of the $15,000 that was raised in 2014. According to Penn State Beaver THON chairman Rebecca Dischman, after the
Photo by Patrick Mansell
THON 2016 raised more than $9.7 million, more than $3 million less than THON 2015.
announcement that dancers would not be sent to THON 2016, at least half of the committee members stopped participating in fundraising for 2017’s earnings. Dischman also explained that one of the main fundraisers is canning weekends, which
POLICE BEAT
Odor of marijuana reported Penn State Police have responded to five different reports of the odor of marijuana in Harmony Hall since mid-December. According to police reports, a resident assistant reported the odor to police at 2:36 p.m. Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. Jan. 12, 5:50 p.m. Jan. 22, 8:35 p.m. Feb. 9, and 1:30 a.m. Feb. 11. In each case, police responded and confirmed the odor, but no charges have been filed against anyone. In an unrelated matter, police searched a car in parking lot C near the campus gym at 2:10 p.m. Jan. 27 after getting a report of the odor of marijuana coming from the car. Police said they found marijuana in the car, but no charges have been filed.
ASSAULT CHARGES DROPPED
Simple assault charges against junior JoeiAnn Williams of Brooklyn were dropped in
district court after the victim refused to testify, campus police said. Police charged Williams after allegedly attacking another student Dec. 16 in Harmony Hall.
NEWSPAPERS GET TOSSED
Police are investigating why quantities of the campus newspaper were thrown away last semester. Numerous copies of the December Roar were found in the trash of the General Classroom Building and the Laboratory Classroom Building at 8 a.m. Nov. 30 and 12:30 p.m. Dec. 1. The newspapers had just been distributed to newstands on campus. Penn State Beaver encourages recycling and it’s not against the law to dispose of the newspaper. However, campus police consider the act to be distasteful.
took place off campus Sept. 25 to 27. Students gathered around local businesses and street corners to collect donations for THON. Due to a fatal car accident involving THON volunteers, two of the three canning weekends were cancelled. Gartley shared that another fundraiser is through thonvelopes. Members of the committee carry these around campus throughout the year for anyone willing to donate. There was also a bake sale held by West Aircomm Credit Union the week of Thanksgiving. As of right now, $3,000 has been raised by Beaver towards the 2017 goal, with 10 to 15 people still actively participating in fundraising, Gartley said. “We need to keep everyone engaged and in fighting mode to make dancers happen,” Gartley said. Dischman agreed. “Our campus needs to keep positive throughout the entire year to raise enough money. It is really challenging to keep interest from the members and keep them wanting to go to fundraising events.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Viewpoints
MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT Julie Worst
Jaw6062@psu.edu
MANAGING EDITOR OF PRODUCTION Brooke Doerfler
Bmd5296@psu.edu
BUSINESS MANAGER Elle George
Erg161@psu.edu
PAGE DESIGNERS Ty Cole
Wtc5037@psu.edu
Alexa Dipietrantonio And151@psu.edu
Brianna D’Itri
Bbd5033@psu.edu
Brianna Rice
Bmr5418@psu.edu
Maria Rogers
Mrr5425@psu.edu
Kate Serna
Kys5434@psu.edu
Matt Sweikowski Mrs5822@psu.edu
Rob Trhlin
Ryt5088@psu.edu
Zach Ulrich
Zau5001@psu.edu
ADVISERS Cathy Benscoter Cub15@psu.edu
Daniel Pinchot Djp114@psu.edu
March 2016
Your vote matters, make sure it’s heard Student’s must get out and vote for their future. The millennial generation is the largest and most diverse generation, which means their voices can have a major impact in the ongoing presidential election process. But that will only happen if students participate in the process, and most importantly, if they vote. The good news is that all indications show college students across the country are becoming more involved, thanks in large part to a grassroots campaign by Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders. Why this 74-year-old man who grew up in Brooklyn resonates with 18 to 24-year-olds across the country likely has to do with his message of political
“revolution.” Sanders speaks to the youth with his free education plan and this may be a big reason he is drawing more college-aged voters. Regardless, he’s spurred many millennials to get involved. So, too, has the Republican front-runner Donald Trump, though likely due to different reasons. Trump seems to have attracted a previously apathetic electorate that has been disgusted with politics up to this point. That description can describe college students. Social media has also played a key role in attracting young voters because candidates such as Trump and Sanders use social media as a way to reach this generation. Students are more likely to
pull up social feeds and read a quick tweet or post rather than a whole article from a prominent source. The younger generation has always been stuck on whether or not to vote, with many saying their lone vote is meaningless. However, if all college students stand up and speak out, their voices will be heard loud and clear. If Penn State Beaver’s recent mock election results are any indication, students on campus are part of the surge in political activity among college students. The results indicate that 60 percent of the students who participated are likely or very likely to cast a ballot in the primary election April 26. It’s your future, go vote.
Get students out of the cold
Students have had enough of the cold in the General Classroom Building and it’s about time the Penn State Beaver administration did something to fix the problem. Students have a right to complain about the high cost of tuition when they come to class in the most popular classroom building and freeze. According to campus officials, the heater that runs the building has been there since 1999 and has seen better days. Officials are
clearly aware of the problem and say lack of funds is what’s preventing them from fixing it. The building doesn’t even pump heat into the hallways or bathrooms. A space heater in the women’s bathroom does nothing and is more of a hazard than a quick fix. Students deserve better learning conditions than what they have been given, especially considering what they pay. An in-state freshman who commutes from home is fork-
ing over nearly $14,000 a year in tuition and fees, while an outof-state freshman who lives on campus pays $31,000 a year in tuition, fees, room and board. With thousands of dollars pouring into the university from students, this problem should not be occurring or should at least be addressed in a more sufficient manner. If it takes five years to fix the heat, then that’s absurd. The administration needs to listen to what the students are saying.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: jaw6062@psu. edu. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number.
ADS FOR CLUBS Free advertising space is offered to any universityrecognized organization or club to promote upcoming events. The space is limited to one eighthpage ad per club per edition. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: erg161@ psu.edu.
The content and opinions of this publication reside solely with the authors and not with the Pennsylvania State University or the Penn State Beaver Student Activity Fee Committee.
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
11
Far left: Peri Coleman, Jess Sigala and Kristian Tienda-Langa scrape bee boxes before repainting them at Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden. Left: From left (back row) Justin Gregory, Thomas Crivelli, Associate Director of Student Affairs Amy Gartley, (middle row) Cheryl Mingyu, Jess Sigala, Kristian Tienda-Langa, Chris Bedillion, (front row) Roar staff member Alexa DiPietrantonio, Donnie Atz, and Alonso Alzua pose for a selfie outside of Sisters of St. Joseph after volunteering on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Students make impact on their MLK day off ALEXA DIPIETRANTONIO Staff Writer
and151@psu.edu
The Roar / Alexa DiPietrantonio
One day can make a difference. One group can make an impact. Penn State Beaver students made an impact throughout Pennsylvania on their day off, Jan. 18., the national holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Penn State Beaver students participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, making it “a day on, not a day off.” Students had different experiences throughout the day, depending on their assignments from Residence Life Coordinator Jennifer Toof. Students had the opportunity to serve in Beaver and Allegheny counties, or to participate in a community “Sip N’ Say,” forum on campus. “Sip N’ Say” participants included not only students, but also community members such as Pastor Herb Bailey of the Uncommon Grounds Cafe, Valery McElvy of the Frank-
lin Center and middle school students from the area. There was even a woman who was at the March on Washington in 1963. The majority of the forum revolved around homelessness, which Bailey had experienced first-hand. Students had the opportunity to discuss what they would do with homelessness and where to start. Bailey spoke of how students are able to do things about homelessness, even just as one student. Freshman Lauren Hudnall said, “One person can make a difference. People might say, ‘but I’m ‘only’ one. No, you ‘are’ one!’” Another group traveled to the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden with Associate Director of Student Affairs Amy Gartley. Students cleaned the auditorium and worked on bee boxes by scraping wax and repainting them. After lunch, four students went outside to help clear a path by throwing branches over a hill, despite the cold weather. The rest of the students
continued to work on the auditorium and bee boxes. “I do a lot of volunteer work with my church, but I am interested in doing more at Villa St. Joseph, especially with the beekeeping,” said freshman Peri Coleman. The third group worked with other Penn State students from Behrend, Shenango, DuBois, Greater Allegheny, Fayette and New Kensington campuses at different service sites in Allegheny County. Residence Life Coordinator Nathan Kelley had a group of Penn State students at a day care where they cleaned and organized. Other groups helped at a theater, an assisted living home, a local library and White Oak Park. “I think service in general is an amazing thing. They [students] gave back to the community and represented Penn State University,” said Kelley, “It was a rewarding day that students enjoyed and you could tell how much the people appreciated it.”
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
March 2016
UP student lives in Hall during internship BROOKE DOERFLER Staff Writer
bmd5296@psu.edu
It is 6 a.m. and new Harmony Hall resident Aaron Goldberg tries not to wake his roommate. The Bistro isn’t open, so he heats a sandwich bought the night before for breakfast. He needs to be out of the hall by 6:45 a.m. in order to make it to work in Moon Township at 7:30 a.m. Goldberg, a junior from Philadelphia who is majoring in industrial engineering at University Park, is spending this semester living in Harmony Hall while doing a cooperative education program with FedEx. Over fall break FedEx flew Goldberg to its Moon facilities for interviews and tours. The position Goldberg applied for involved packing FedEx trailers as efficiently as possible while keeping weight limits and timeliness priorities. Initially, Goldberg was hesitant to do a cooperative education program, or co-op. Amy Gartley, associate director of Student Affairs, explains a co-op as an internship during the academic year. “Sacrificing a semester – a half year – will cause me to fall behind academically, socially and push graduation back,” Goldberg said. “There’s a lot, but after talking to my adviser, professors and rabbi, they all said to do it.” Once Goldberg accepted the posi-
The Roar/Brooke Doerfler
Aaron Goldberg sits in the lobby of Harmony Hall, the place he has been living as he does his cooperative education program at FedEx in Moon Township.
tion at FedEx, he had another road block to overcome. “I needed housing,” Goldberg said. A family friend and Penn State
alumnus recalled the Beaver campus being only about 30 minutes away from Moon. Gartley was the first person from the Penn State Beaver that Goldberg
connected with. “Amy helped a lot. I just had to sign a contract,” he said. However, there was more to the process of securing housing for Goldberg than just signing a contract.
Gartley knew housing was the first step. “Aaron was not going to be a fulltime student, but he was a registered student pursuing academics,” she said. This, in combination with Harmony Hall not being at capacity, is what made him eligible for housing. The next step was to see if Goldberg could take any classes on campus. With no suitable classes available, Goldberg is only receiving credits for his co-op this semester. “This was out of the cookie cutter, but a win-win for our students to hear his experience and for Aaron to get housing,” Gartley said about Goldberg, who also did an internship in Israel last summer. Goldberg’s roommate, sophomore Tyler Suehr, said that it is certainly different having a roommate that isn’t in the room at all during the day. “It is different having a roommate that works all day, but he is really cool to talk to at night.” Gartley said that she had to move campuses several times in college – after starting at Beaver campus, she moved to Behrend and finally went to Harrisburg to complete her internship. “It is possible for Beaver students to take advantage of getting housing at another campus to pursue academics,” she said. Not every campus may be an option, but Gartley encourages students to seek help to see what opportunities exist.
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
13
Students stand against violence SAVANA C. GRIGGS Staff Writer
scg5198@psu.edu
During the first few weeks of spring semester, students were welcomed by random green dots displayed on walls and windows throughout the entire Penn State Beaver Campus. Some students may have noticed an event listed in the spring 2016 Student Activities calendar with a somewhat discreet description. It was for an event called Stand for State that was held on Jan. 27. The only information the description provided was, “Green Dot… Come and Learn More!” Students also listened about Green Dot through small-scale presentations during a select some regularly scheduled classes to promote the event. About 80 students went to the event known as Green Dot. Green Dot is a university-wide program to help students learn how to prevent sexual harassment, sexual
violence, stalking and relationship violence. “Green Dot is a way to engage peers and to look out for each other,” said Director of Student Affairs Christopher Rizzo. “The whole notion of it is to stop or engage the issue before it becomes an issue. The idea of being able to have a peer lookout for the safety of a peer before something happens, as opposed to the aftermath,” Rizzo said. Penn State Beaver is also planning on hosting on a more in-depth and longer program for students who are interested in learning more about the program. Assistant Athletic Director BJ Bertges said that the campus will hold Green Dot workshops. One is going to appear in April. “They’re going to provide students with a variety of training.” Bertges said there is more for students to learn. “Students will get more in-depth than what they saw at the launch event. There are going
The Roar/Rob Trhlin
Assistant Athletic Director BJ Bertges and students Taja Finley, Courtney Booze and Christy Abraham pose for a picture during the campus’s Stand for State program Jan. 27.
to be a lot of more activites and scenario-based things for students to participate in.” Students can also have the opportunity to be a Green Dot ambassador. Another advocate for the program, Personal & Career Counselor Brenda Shultz, said, “Some people want to
become more and more involved, and for those people who want to be a face of the movement, (ambassador) gives them the opportunity to have that role.” Freshman Adele Smith said she heard about Green Dot through the Student Government Association.
“I knew it was an important cause to get involved in,” Smith said. “I signed up for more information to be a Green Dot Ambassador because I want to hear more information about it. I also want help more people to get involved who normally wouldn’t,” Smith added.
Beaver welcomes three new staff members to the campus SAEED ISAM Staff Writer
ski5028@psu.edu
Penn State Beaver has hired three new staff members: April Johnston in public relations, Debra Roach in continuing education and Stephanie Ryan in human resources. Johnston, the new public relations coordinator, has worked for almost a decade in newspapers, magazines and public relations. She serves as both the campus spokesperson and the website’s editor. Most recently, Johnston was a faculty member in journalism at West Virginia University. “I used to have a more flexible schedule; however, I like this job more.” Johnston’s job description includes doing all the writing coming from the university and being the contact for any media outlets. Her goal is to move the alumni magazine, which
April Johnston
Debra Roach
Stephanie Ryan
has always been printed, to an online magazine, “which would allow us to do a lot of different, modern things to our content.” Johnston started in late November. Roach, the new director of continuing education, is also looking to make some changes since assuming her role at the beginning of Decem
ber. “I want to streamline our processes and bring us to modernization,” she said. Roach has over 10 years of experience in the fields of marketing, data mining and analysis and workforce development. Her most recent position as assistant dean and director of graduate enrollment at Robert Mor-
ris University. She served as assistant director of the graduate school at California University of Pennsylvania preceding that. Among her responsibilities are any courses that aren’t a traditional fouryear credit program such as youth camps, corporate training and continuing education credits.
Ryan, who began work midJanuary, is the new regional human resources director for the Beaver, Shenango and DuBois campuses. She recently worked for Preferred Primary Care Physicians in Pittsburgh where she oversaw 21 office locations. “The director is responsible for executing HR strategy within the campus’s strategic plans,” she explained. She also plans and leads human resource functions like recruitment and hiring, job classification, compensation and employee relations. Ryan spends time each week at each of the three campuses she serves. She said she sees promise ahead for Beaver. “I do know Penn State Beaver will continue to grow enrollment while providing excellent academic options for its students,” she said.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Features
March 2016
Gamers explore dream world of Undertale RYAN LOCKHART Staff Writer
rnl5086@psu.edu
Since September, gamers all over Penn State Beaver have been flocking to their computers to play a one-ofa-kind game, Undertale, a new PC game. This game from Indie Developer Toby Fox has been making waves with his incredibly original role-playing game (RPG) Undertale, which is packed with a story designed to make you appreciate every choice you make in the game. The PC exclusive made it big several months ago when it went on sale on Steam for just $10. Students say the story and characters of Undertale are renowned for being what truly makes the game as popular as it has become. Whether it’s the fourth-wall breaks or the endless amount of playful puns, players will have no problem submersing themselves within the perilous world of Undertale.
Undertale gives players the option between murder and mercy when meeting new characters.
Undertale is an old-fashioned, yet innovative, role-playing game which puts players in control of a child who accidently falls down an “Alice in Wonderland” type hole into the lost world of monsters. “From the beginning of the game, you just want to get home,” said senior Vito Davis, another fan of
Undertale. To do so your character must travel through an underground world, making friends or enemies with the monsters they meet. Within Undertale are three main endings and by performing certain prerequisites within each run through, the player can unlock spe-
cific mini-endings within each main ending, says Sexton. This system of storytelling gives the player reason to play through the game time and time again to find the whole of the story. Kevin Bennett, senior instructor of psychology, isn’t a player of Undertale, but gives insight into why a player might play a game such as this. “In addition to being in this world, you are creating and shaping it, and there is something very enjoyable about that,” said Bennett. In Undertale, decisions matter more than anything. It’s “kill or be killed,” which is made aware by characters early in the game. The first time someone plays Undertale, they have to do the “neutral” ending before they can complete the other endings, “pacifist” and “genocide.” By using a completely unique battle system, the player chooses to “fight” or “act,” then moves around a heart, which represents your soul, dodging enemy
attacks. According to Sexton, each ending is different so players looking for the full story will have play the game several times. Luckily, one run through of the game is only about five hours, with the “genocide” run being a bit longer due to its difficulty. Many fans have also found attachment with the characters introduced to you just moments into the game. “Characters are what make the game, even enemies,” said Davis. According to players like Sexton and Davis, Undertale characters seem to grow on players from the moment you start the game. This gives the player incentive to keep characters alive and hurts them even more to kill them off. The unique atmosphere of Undertale is easily spoiled by friends or online guides, so avoid these as much as possible, said Sexton “The best way to play this game is without any outside experience,” said Sexton.
Don’t throw this newspaper away!
Features
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
15
COMM students help undecided find a major NICK CASASANTA Staff Writer
nec5137@psu.edu
Communications 471 students are coordinating a week-long scavenger hunt for undecided students at Penn State Beaver. The event that is happening Monday, April 4 through Monday, April 11, will feature four 50-minute sessions during common hour. The event is designed to incorporate all the majors Penn State Beaver has to offer while helping students discover their strengths and interests. Students will spend two days in pursuit of clues that will lead them to academic resources around campus. The week will then culminate in a zombie apocalypse themed series of escape rooms. The participants will have to use their natural skills and abilities to answer riddles, solve puzzles, negotiate business deals, and spark chemical reactions in order to escape being eaten by the zombies. Academic Advising Manager Gretchen Samchuck and Director of Enrollment Dan Pinchot
challenged the public relations class to help DUS students choose a major, allowing them to discover their abilities through a series of activities to help them connect with majors and careers. “If it helps just one student figure out what they want to do, this project was a success in my eyes,” Samchuck said. By utilizing advisers, faculty and alumni, undecided students will be able to connect and familiarize themselves with campus resources. This will allow them to open their eyes to the many opportunities that are available to them throughout the Penn State system. According the academic advising journal The Mentor, “an estimated 20-50 percent of college students enter as undecided”. Also, a whopping 75 percent of students change their major once or more before graduation. Of that 20-50 percent of undecided freshmen, 25 percent of them will drop out after their first year. Freshman Dennis Pietrandrea is one of the many undecided students
at Penn State Beaver. “I am definitely interested in the event,” Pietrandrea said. “I like being involved in clubs and a variety of events here on campus. It makes me feel like we’re one big family here.” “If a student enjoys what they are studying, they are more likely to do better in their classes and also be more engaged, which will lead to better results academically,” said Pinchot. “This project is student driven, and the students proposed the idea to help retain undecided students in the Penn State system and to help them declare a major by their fourth semester,” said Storr. “I will view it as a success if the students in this class learn the skills necessary to advance their own careers,” said Storr. The project managers are senior communication majors Marlee Bandish and Rob Trhlin. “I am thankful for the experience even though it is stressful at times. If people attend and find it useful, I would say that is a successful event,” said Bandish.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
March 2016
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
Sports
17
Lady Lions are ‘four’ real TY COLE
Staff Writer wtc5037@psu.edu
This senior class was already the most dominant class in Penn State Beaver women’s basketball history with three Penn State University Athletic Conference titles and a national championship under its belt. They just added another PSUAC title Feb. 23 when the Lady Lions defeated Penn State Hazleton 61-59 in the Bryce Jordan Center. Hazleton led the entire game but Beaver made a late charge with a 13-5 run to end the game with a win. “I told the girls this was probably my favorite championship win that we’ve had,” said Coach Tim Moore. “Being down 12 in the fourth quarter, it really didn’t look too hopeful. We buckled down and we did what we had to do to get the win.” Senior captain Morgan Kurtz said she was grateful for the win. “I’m very proud and I’ve had a very successful career at Penn State Beaver.” Even though they are the defending United States Collegiate Athletic Association national champions, people still had their doubts about this year’s team. “If you would’ve asked anyone early if this was possible, you would have a lot of doubters,” said Moore. Moore said he’s already looking ahead to the USCAA championship. “The team we beat last year in the national championship has everyone back and added a Division I transfer, so it’ll be tough,” he said. “I told our girls that we can score with anyone. We stick to the game plan and work hard, (and) we can beat anyone.” Beaver got off to a slow start with a 0-5 record to begin the season. They picked it up though, finishing with an 18-9 overall record, 13-1 in the conference, and winning 12 straight games in conference play. A rare moment occurred this season as senior Khalia Adams netted her 1,000th point in the Feb. 7 game against Penn State Mont Alto. “It was great,” said Adams. “I
made history and I’m glad to be a part of that. I worked hard and it paid off. I’m excited and blessed.” Sophomore Brittany Jackson called the team “dedicated.” “We’re a dedicated team and we work hard as a team.” Jackson led all scores with 18 points and 9 rebounds in the PSUAC championship game. Both teams played scrappy throughout the game, as Hazleton took a 25-22 lead into halftime. Kurtz tied the game 31-31 with six minutes left in the third but Hazleton regained the lead and went into the final quarter up 48-41. Adams made a jumper and drew the foul with 59 seconds left to play to give Beaver the lead 60-59. Junior guard Mason Depetro added a free throw making the final score 61-59. Winning the championship gives the team a birth in the USCAA national tournament March 1 where they look to defend their title. Roar Staff Writer Evan Pinchot contributed to this report.
Penn State Beaver Athletics
Above: Junior guard Mason Depetro reaches for a layup against Penn State Hazelton in the Feb. 23 PSUAC championship game at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. Beaver pulled off a close 61-59 win late in the game. Left: Seniors Khalia Adams and Morgan Kurtz kiss the team’s fourth straight PSUAC championship trophy.
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Sports
March 2016
Fightin Beavs eye a repeat MATTHEW GEORGE PALAHUNIK Staff Writer
mgp5156@psu.edu
The Penn State Fightin Beavs inline club hockey team started the second half of the season rough with a loss to Duquesne University but picked it up winning four straight games improving to 9-4 overall. The Fightin Beavs are tied for second with Slippery Rock University-Green in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Inline Hockey League. They have one regular-season matchup left against No. 1-ranked Duquesne before the playoffs begin. Duquesne crushed the Fightin Beavs, 8-0. Duquesne’s unrelenting aggression caused the Fightin Beavs to submit. The Fightin Beavs fell victim to the mercy rule by the second period of the game. This was the first time the Fightin Beavs lost because of the mercy rule. “This is collectively the worst game the Beavs have had,” said sophomore
Ryan Pinto. “Changes are happening to get to the playoffs.” Coach Steve Turyan said, “It was the first game from a long break and we weren’t ready to play. We are playing a lot better this second half.” The next game was against Slippery Rock- White Jan. 27. The team was able to get in three goals by the end of the first period. However, Slippery Rock was able to catch up. It appeared as if the game would end in a tie resulting in a shoot-out to decide who would win. This all changed when senior Josh Kelly scored the fourth and final shot of the game with only 23 seconds left on the clock, making the final score 4-3. It was during this game that freshman Grant Rombold was put in as goalie for the first time. Rombold said his transition from forward to goalie went smoothly, even though “there is a lot of new
Grant Rombold squares up to the shooter in their win againt IUP.
rules.” Beaver faced off against Slippery Rock-’s Green Feb. 3. The Beavs successfully won their second encounter with with a final score of 4-3. The Fightin Beavs were pitted against the Carnegie Mellon Uni-
versity Tigers Feb. 11. The Fightin Beavs won 7-3 that night. The Beavs played against Indiana University of Pennsylvania Feb. 17. The Fightin Beavs were able to get one goal in both the first and second period.
The Roar/ Zach Ulrich
Then during the third period, the team scored four goals, ending the matchup 6-1. Leading the Beavs is sophomore Jason Schwartz with seven goals and three assists, followed by Kelly with 6 goals and 2 assists.
Men fall short of the PSUAC basketball playoffs
ALEXIS SHEFFIELD Staff Writer
azs269@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver men’s basketball team battled through a tough season, ending with a 9-15 overall record and 7-9 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. Despite a strong opening game against rival Community College of Allegheny County, the team struggled to bring in wins and went on a three-game losing streak in November. In January, the team was plagued with a five-game losing streak, four of which were PSUAC opponents. Beaver ended the streak on Jan. 30 with a 81-73 win against Penn State Worthington Scranton. Sophomore Eric Gallupe led his team in scoring 30 of the 81 points. In February, Beaver lost three of their final five games, two of which
Prnn State Beaver Athletics Photo
Lamont Wright pulls up from beyond the three line during Beaver’s Senior Night against rival Penn State Greater Allegheny.
they had home court advantage. “We struggled in the middle of
the season which made us out of the playoffs, but overall I am satisfied,”
said senior Lamont Wright. However, Wright said he made his mark on the team by teaching the underclassmen leadership. Beaver is led by Coach Brian Bibey. This is Bibey’s first season coaching the men’s basketball team, and he is the third head coach in three years. Bibey said he feels no pressure to keep the Penn State tradition alive because he receives a lot of support from the administration and his staff. Most coaches get to recruit their players, but in Bibey’s case, all the players came with the package. He said he has already started recruiting for next season. When asked about the losing streak mid-season, Bibey was full of positivity. He said his players learned from the experience and played for each other. “Most teams at a collegiate level
have short rotations,” says Bibey. He said he was confident that the players on the court deserved to be on the court. Beaver ended the season on the road with an 81-69 loss to Penn State Hazleton. Wright led with 27 points, with sophomore Christian Perkins picking up 17 and Gallupe 15. In the final home game of the season, Beaver brought in an 89-73 win over Penn State Greater Allegheny as the team celebrated senior night. After an 11-3 run to start the game, Beaver led throughout. Gallupe and junior Ignacio Alleyne both had 22 points, followed by sophomore DJ Austin and Wright with 20. Alleyne led beaver with 13 rebounds, followed by Wright with 11. They both ended the night with double-doubles.
March 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
Sports
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Baseball’s on the road back to nationals TODD WEISCHEDEL Staff Writer
tcw5152@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver baseball team will play eight pre-season games during a spring training trip to Florida over spring break, as the team prepares for the official start of the season March 17. The team will be playing its first game at Historic Dodgertown, in Vero Beach, Fla., on March 7. The players spend a week playing games and getting ready for conference play. Beaver’s home opener is a double header March 17 against Butler County Community College at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Every team’s goal is to win and that’s what Coach Jack Hilfinger has set for his team, hoping to make the playoffs for seven straight years. The team’s record from last season was 19-18 overall, 13-6 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference.
Daniel Vanderslice warms up before taking a bullpen.
The team lost in the PSUAC championship game and went onto play in the United States Collegiate Athletic
The Roar/ Ty Cole
Association National tournament, losing two games there. Hilfinger said one of the main
focuses during practice this year is on the team building up its endurance. They are throwing and hitting every day, he said, and the pitching staff is throwing live to hitters two to three days a week. The goal for pitchers is to throw seven innings before they head down to Florida for spring training, Hilfinger said. The infielders are working on foot work and taking groundball after groundball, he added. The outfielders are also working on foot work and communication drills. “The coaching staff tries to come up with new practice ideas so it does not get boring.” There are eighteen returning players from last year. The team is led by seniors Tyler Thellman, Matt Sweikowski and Derek Bozic along with returning juniors Nick Casasanta, Jake Debo and Blaise McCarty. “We have a strong core of players returning and experience, which will
help us later in the year,” Bozic said. Thellman will control the infield at short stop. Bozic will split time on the corners at first and third base. Casasanta, Sweikowski and Debo will be starting pitchers in the pitching rotation, and McCarty will wrap up the pitching staff in the closing role. “We are focused on our goals that have been set for us and we are ready to get the season rolling,” Thellman said. The returning players will be joined by three new players. Stephen Antolic is a junior transfer and will be a utility player. Ty Cole is a sophomore transfer and will be a utility player as well. Ryan Onderko is the new freshman catcher set to take the dish. The Penn State Beaver baseball team’s schedule is available on the Penn State Beaver Athletics website at psubeaverathleteics.com.
Lady Lions set to start the softball season off strong TODD WEISCHEDEL Staff Writer
tcw5152@psu.edu
The Penn State Beaver softball team is hoping that a spring training trip to Florida over spring break will be the kickoff they need for a turnaround season the team desperately seeks. Last year’s 6-18 overall record, 6-12 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference, included losing two games in the PSUAC tournament, which kept the team out of the United State Collegiate Athletic Association national championship for the second year in a row. The team has been practicing and getting ready to get back on track to their winning ways, said Coach Andy Kirschner. “We are taking it day by day and practice by practice.” The women practice in the gym, which consists of batting practice,
ground balls and cut-off throws from the outfield to the infield. The gym is equipped with batting cages. Then cut-off throws are set up to prepare the outfield and infield players to catch the softballs from various positions. “The team plays a seven-game series of stick ball. This helps the girls get to know one other and take a step back for practice to have a little of fun,” said junior Haley Paul. The team is led by senior catcher Rachel Charlier, followed by juniors Asia Borders in the outfield, Jenna Petrucci at third base and Paul at first base. Sophomore Sunnie Liggett plays short stop and can be seen in the outfield as well. The team welcomes 10 freshman players. There are a lot of new faces on the team, but Petrucci said she is excited about getting the season going. The team will be playing at His-
Penn State Beaver Lady Lions softball team pose for their team photo.
toric Dodgertown, in Vero Beach, Fla., on March 7. They will spend a week playing multiple games and getting ready for
conference play. Beaver’s home opener is a double header on March 24 against Chatham University at 3 and 5 p.m.
Penn State Beaver Athletics
The Penn State Beaver softball team schedule is available on the Penn State Beaver Athletics website at psubeaverathleteics.com
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Penn State Beaver Roar
Sports
March 2016
Wrestling tries to keep wrestlers around JIMMY LEMA Staff Writer
jml5978@psu.edu
Arguably the most disappointing sports program for this year has been the Penn State Beaver varsity wrestling program because of its low number of wrestlers. The wrestling program is down to only five wrestlers, an all-time low for the relatively young program. Due to the low numbers, the team picked up more conference duels this season and had an overall record of 3-2. The wrestlers competed in three tournaments this season, but not a single match took place at home. Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said he hopes to get the number of wrestlers back into the double digits next season.The wrestling team was founded in 2011-12 with a dozen
wrestlers, but has dropped to eight or nine wrestlers on the roster each year since – except this year. “Being able to continue the program with success is going to be a difficult task to complete.” Kirschner said. “Recruiting and keeping the right kids will gain popularity for the program,” Kirschner said. The low numbers presented a challenge for first-year Coach Carl Yanek, who has been involved in wrestling for almost his entire life. Intensity at practices has decreased, he said. “Practices weren’t as intense with only five guys. They are more disappointed with the loss of practice partners,” Yanek said. Yanek said he has his plans set in order to bring the number of wres-
Penn State Beaver Athletics
Ivan Rodriguez ties up his opponent in a conference match.
tlers up next season. “Adding tournaments, building the numbers up and building consistency.I plan on
recruiting students who will be here for a full four years to keep them on the team for a while,” Yanek said.
With the low numbers, wrestlers were forced to practice with wrestlers out of their weight class. Sophomore Donnie Kerr, who wrestled in the 165-pound weight class, sometimes has to partner with freshman Ivan Rodriguez who wrestles in the 235pound weight class. “Wrestling in a higher class is very difficult, but it gives me more experience and builds strength,” Kerr said. “Challenges so far are not having a big team and not having the right people to practice with,” Rodriguez said. Kirschner stated that the lack of numbers presented gives Yanek the opportunity to improve the program. His ideas to increase the amount of wrestlers are good. The challenge for him will be a good test his first year as coach, he said.