March 2015 Roar

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Penn State Beaver Roar

News

March 2015

MBB to receive modern changes JULIE WORST Staff Writer

jaw6062@psu.edu

The Penn State Board of Trustees in January approved the $9.45 million Michael Baker Building renovation project.

Construction crews are set to start preliminary work March 1 in areas of the building that aren’t being used this semester, according to Luke Taiclet, director of finance and business. Asbestos abatement will start after finals are completed in May. The project is due to be finished for limited access in November of 2015 so that an Organic Chemistry Lab can be taught in the building in spring of 2016.

The building will include all new chemistry, Information Sciences and Technology, physics, engineering, and communications labs. A new elevator will also bring the building up to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Leo Takahashi, assistant professor of physics, has been teaching at Beaver since 1967, including numerous classes in the MBB.

Stantec Architecture

An artist’s rendition shows how the front of the Michael Baker Building will look after renovations are complete.

He said he remembers the night when lightning hit the building and the power went out as he was teaching, so he took the class to the hallway where he could write with wax pencils on the door to finish his lesson.

Takahashi said he is excited to get a new building and hopes that in the future he will not need to go into the

hallway to teach.

Keith Willson, instructor of physics, said he is looking forward to having a lecture space with windows. He will be able to use them to provide examples for teaching about lenses.

“The Chemistry Department is getting a makeover in the Michael Baker Building. The new design is expected to make both the general

chemistry and organic chemistry labs more efficient,” said Kim Lawrence, laboratory technician for the chemistry and biology departments.

Michael Hay, associate professor of chemistry, said he remembers flooding the chemistry lab twice when he was doing research.

Claudia Tanaskovic, instructor in chemistry, said she is looking forward

to having air conditioning and new equipment. “I will use the same lab experiments, but they will just run smoother.”

Getting the labs cleaned up and organized was one of the biggest challenges for Lawrence. She said her favorite part of cleaning and organizing the building has been finding the old equipment from when the building originally opened.

“It is like walking into a time capsule,” Lawrence said.

John Chapin, professor of communications, is thrilled to have a soundproof room so that the video production class will be able to create videos without background noise.

Chapin, whose current office is in the middle of the top floor of the MBB, said he’s going to miss his office space when the new elevator is installed there.

However, one thing that will look the same is that chalkboards will still be in the classrooms, something the faculty insisted on keeping.

“The chalkboard is the greatest piece of educational technology ever invented,” Takahashi said.

SUB Lodge and campus sidewalks undergoing improvements MATT SWEIKOWSKI Staff Writer

mrs5822@psu.edu

When the Penn State University Board of Trustees holds its summer meeting at Penn State Beaver this July, trustees will see the results of several campus improvement projects.

Students who use the Student Union Building may have noticed that they can no longer walk through the doorway closest to the Ross Administration Building. This is because it is sealed off, and signs have been posted saying that construction is underway.

RICON Construction of Rhode Island is the leading contractor of the building project and plans to make the SUB Lodge a “nicelooking, professional place to be,” said Director of Finance and Business Luke Taiclet.

“They’re putting in all LED lightning, improving functionality, and focusing on our main goal: sustainability,” Taiclet said.

Renaissance 3 Architechture

Renovations to the Student Union Building Lodge will include new flooring, lighting and walls.

By adding new technology, the idea is to make a “smart room” with more energy-efficient lighting and a more tech-friendly environment, Taiclet said.

“The plan for the Lodge has been in place since January of 2014, but due to a lack of

funds, the Student Union Building had to be done in segments,” Taiclet said.

Another construction project that has come up this school year is the seemingly neverending sidewalk project.

Across campus, sidewalks have been replaced

either in pieces or entire segments. The work had to be stopped in December, before the whole project could be finished, because of the weather, Taiclet said.

“This project was originally supposed to be done last summer, but the contracts for the job were sent out late, so they had to wait to start working,” said Taiclet.

“The winter months are not the ideal conditions for the construction industry, especially when pouring concrete,” Taiclet said. “But once the weather breaks, you can expect that construction will continue until the project is done.”

“Well, what is happening to the flagpole in the center of campus?” asked sophomore Vinnie Garuccio.

“It will just disappear,” said Taiclet.

The sidewalk plans include the unfinished parts around the center courtyard and possibly the walkway between the Bistro and the MBB.

March 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar

News

3

Campus bat houses to be built Bats aren’t monsters, just misunderstood, says Butterworth

ERIK McCLAIN Staff Writer

ezm5306@psu.edu

This April, Penn State Beaver will install bat houses across the campus designed and constructed in a joint effort between biology and engineering students with a goal of attracting local bats to shelter.

The project started in November when Assistant Professor of Biology Cassandra Butterworth and Instructor of Biology Stephanie Petroski collaborated to create a special biology class centered on researching and building housing for bats.

“Dr. Petroski and I have started a special topics biology course. We have 12 students and their goal is to research the best place to put bat houses, what species we should try to attract and what their requirements are. What are the bats looking for?”

Butterworth said.

In addition to researching bats, the biology students will be partnering with Engineering Design 100 students to design and construct the houses.

“It’s the first time a collaborative and interdisciplinary course has been formally taught here, that we’re aware of,” said Petroski. “We’re helping provide the students with an invaluable collaboration experience.”

Butterworth added, “The students are figuring out the correct warmth for the houses, what kind of non-toxic materials to use, how to create proper air circulation and how high off the

ERIK McCLAIN Staff Writer

ezm5306@psu.edu

Courtesy of Tim Crusan

Students collaborate to create designs for bat houses on campus.

ground they should be. The engineering students will use this research in their designs.”

The houses have been approved to be constructed and installed in April, though design specificities and exact locations are still undecided.

The two instructors, who students have affectionately nicknamed “Batwoman and Robin,” hope to see the houses attract either Little Brown Bats or Big Brown Bats.

The instructors hope the houses will serve as summer roosts and maternity shelters for mother bats raising their young.

After construction, Butterworth

and Petroski plan on holding an oncampus event on Earth Day that will use the bat houses as educational tools to inform students about bats and their importance.

“My hope is that bats move in and that it will firstly help the bats and concern for the species, but also raise awareness in students, staff, and faculty on the importance of bats,” Butterworth said.

Beyond educational purposes, Butterworth and Petroski said they have chosen two students to present the project to the Penn State Board of Trustees when they meet on campus in July.

Most people don’t even think or care about bats.

That’s not true for Cassandra Butterworth, assistant professor of biology, who has made bats her life’s work.

Butterworth, who earned her Ph.D. through research on a species of bats native to her home country of South Africa, specializes in bats and genetics research on them.

“Bats are the most important nocturnal predators of insects – each bat can eat its body weight in insects (in one) night, and many of the insects they’re feeding on are agricultural pest species,” said Butterworth, “so bats are literally saving farmers billions of dollars a year. Bats are nature’s pesticides.”

In contest with the commonly held negative attitudes towards bats, Butterworth is enthusiastic about spreading awareness and care for them.

“People need to stop being scared of bats. There are over

1,000 species, and only one feeds on mammalian blood.

Bats aren’t scary, they’re necessary,” she said.

Butterworth is also trying to raise concern about a recent epidemic in bat populations.

“The problem now is that there is a fungus that causes a disease called White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) that has killed more than seven million bats in the Northeast,” she said. “It’s possible that the Little Brown Bat and the federally endangered Indiana bat will become extinct within 15 years.”

Butterworth added, “WhiteNose Syndrome is still spreading very quickly and if extinction were to occur, farmers would not only lose money, but [also] have to increase their use of pesticides.”

While Butterworth continues to hope for a solution to the impending problem, Penn State students can help by attending her planned on-campus event this Earth Day, which is designed to increase knowledge about the importance of bats.

Research fair welcomes service projects and the arts NICK MILLER Staff Writer

nem5168@psu.edu

Two new categories have been added to the 14th annual research fair, now called the Undergraduate Research, Engaged Scholarship and Creative Activity Fair.

Service-learning projects as well as creative works may now be entered into the contest.

“In the past, the only presenta-

tions allowed were biology, communications, philosophy, etc.,” Irene Wolf, senior instructor of philosophy, said. “Now, works of service, poetry, dance, photography, sculpture and other arts may be entered.”

With the addition of the new categories, the fair will still run the same as in the past. There will be both poster and oral presentations lasting a few minutes each. Each presentation will be judged by a group of faculty

members.

“There will be six award categories versus the four in previous years,” Carey McDougall, director of academic affairs, said. “We have $500 in cash awards, but have not determined the details yet.”

From freshmen to seniors, all students are welcome to apply. Student registration forms must be submitted and approved by a faculty sponsor or mentor by Monday, March 23.

“The fair allows students to showcase their work and helps prepare them for graduate school or presenting in the real world,” Wolf said.

“That’s what it’s all about.”

In the past, participating students have gone on to bigger conferences and prestigious events. “The addition of service projects and creative work interests me,” sophomore Pete Ellefson said. “I may look into entering in the future.”

The event will be in the library from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. The fair is open to all students and the public.

“As an artist, it is exciting that we are now able to celebrate additional types of work that students engage in,” McDougall said.

Forms and further information are available online at the Penn State Beaver website: beaver.psu.edu/ research.

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Penn State Beaver Roar

News

March 2015

Harmony’s dirty secret revealed CHRISTIAN JAMES Staff Writer

aj5316@psu.edu

The Roar/Rob Trhlin

Students talk with Provost Nick Jones, center (pointing), and administrators Feb. 19 in the Student Union.

Provost visits with students ROB TRHLIN Staff Writer

ryt5088@psu.edu

Penn State Beaver students enjoyed a break with Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones and other administrators Feb. 19 as they discussed the campus.

Penn State doesn’t accept enough

transfer credits, students said, and some credits don’t transfer to other colleges. Jones said new degree options are being added to more Penn State campuses so students can finish at the campus of their choice.

The atmosphere of the campus was a hot topic as multiple students shared their Penn State stories.

Most student said that Beaver reminds them of home and commented on how great the campus looks. Students also praised their professors for communicating with them often.

“It was great to hear that students feel welcomed and enjoy their time here at Penn State,” said Jones.

Resident faces drug charges after search Penn State Beaver police charged freshman Jacob T. Timko of Erie with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia Jan. 15.

Police said the charges were related to a complaint from a resident assistant who reported a faint smell of marijuana coming from Timko’s room on Nov. 21.

Police said Timko consented to a check of his room, where they found marijuana and a grinder.

Campus police have also received several other reports of the odor of marijuana in Harmony Hall recently.

Police reports show that over a roughly two week span in February alone, there have been six incidents.

The first report came in on Feb. 2,

followed by Feb. 8, 11, 13, 17 and 18. All have been reported either very late in the evening or the early morning hours.

Police reported no arrest or charges related to the incidents.

VANDALISM REPORTED IN THE SAS

Vandalism was reported in the Student Activities Suite, 115 Student Union Building, on Jan. 29.

Police said someone wrote on school property with a permanent marker. Police said they have no suspects.

STUDENT ARRESTED

BY CENTER POLICE

Center Township police arrested

an unnamed student on campus Jan. 22. According to a Penn State Beaver Police report, the student was arrested around the General Classroom Building on charges of aggravated assault.

The report says the student was involved in an off-campus incident that led to her arrest.

Campus police, who assisted with the arrest, would not provide the name of the student because Center Township police filed the charges.

Center Township police were unable to provide additional information.

The officer contacted said only the chief was authorized to provide information, and he was out of the office for training.

Residents of Harmony Hall say they have been frustrated about the cleanliness of bathrooms and how unsanitary it has been since the beginning of fall semester.

Students report that residents are not considering cleaning their mess after using the toilet, sink and shower. “(It’s) a room full of irresponsibility where people take routine cleaning for granted, so messes are never cleaned up,” said junior Woosuk Jeong.

“Huge piles of hair and toothpaste are always on floor, and toilets are inconsiderately dirty with pee and poop,” Woosuk said. “This is our home, but residents in the dorm do not treat it like it is.”

It is not all bathrooms, from what residents have said.

The problem mainly occurs in the second and third floor men’s bathroom plus the second floor women’s bathroom.

Freshman Porsha Reed said food is also a problem.

“Residents are leaving their Bistro plates and food by the sink and leaving them there just to sit,” she said. “Residents can just take responsibility when they use the

bathroom, shower, etc., and if they see anybody making a mess and not cleaning it up, then tell them to do so or tell the RA and let them handle it.”

Junior Sidney Bates described the condition of the men’s bathroom as “pitiful.” “More daily cleanups would help, but why make the janitor’s life harder than it already is this year?” Bates said.

“We are grown adults, but the bathrooms look like middle school kids have been in it all day,” Bates added. Even if they did more daily checkups, some residents tend to make it dirty on purpose just to be funny.”

On a typical day, Bates said, “there is one shower clean, by the afternoon, trash is disrespectfully thrown in showers and people’s hair mess will be clogging the drain.”

Jeremy Lindner, director of Housing and Food Services, said student should be responsible.

“Residents could help staff out by cleaning up more of their messes because the staff does deep clean the bathrooms twice a day and juggles the times of when residents are showering when it is supposed to be cleaning times.”

Roar wins award for illustration For the second year in a row, Dante Massey has won a state newspaper award for illustration.

Massey, who graduated in December, took second place in Division II of the 2015 Student Keystone Press Awards for his work in The Roar.

Dante won for a collection of work that included: “Twitter cover,” “Halloween Nittany Lion zombie cover” and “Swipe right for a hookup.”

Division II encompasses all 4-year colleges and universities in the state with fewer than 10,000 students.

This is Dante’s second Keystone for illustration. Last year he won a second place award in the same category, but the division included all 4-year colleges and universities in the state.

The only other Penn State campus to win a Keystone this year is University Park.

March 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar

News

5

Submitted Photo

The sampe pictured above from University Libraries is what the charging stations on campus will look like.

Loaner garments from the Career Closet will be featured in Dress for Success on March 4.

The Roar/Lade King

Find the right clothes for the job LADE KING Staff writer

lak5479@psu.edu

Dressing professionally is something that becomes extremely important when moving into the professional world.

With the support of Career Services, four clubs on campus will be hosting a Dress for Success fashion show at noon on Wednesday, March 4, in the Brodhead Bistro.

The event will show students how to dress right for job interviews, internships, conferences and other professional events.

Brenda Shultz, career counselor, explains that students will learn firsthand how to match different pieces of clothing for interviews, internships and conferences.

Junior Maura Francis, one of the organizers of Dress for Success, said that students need to be prepared for the real world. “It is good that

you know how to dress for success early so when there is an opportunity for a job interview, you already have the knowledge of how to dress for it.”

“Dress how you want to be addressed,” Francis said.

“There are many reasons to care about how you dress. First, it builds your confidence,” said Shultz. She emphasized the importance of understanding how to dress in different environments to maintain a good image.

“Networking is important,” said Amy Arnold, a junior business major. “You never know when the president of Penn State will come visiting. That’s why I try to look presentable.”

Shultz said college students usually have the excuse of not having enough money to dress well. Her advice to them is to invest in their professional wardrobe little by little,

starting with the basics, like black slacks.

This excuse is the reason why Penn State Beaver has the Career Closet, which provides professional outfits for loan in various sizes for both males and females. Students interested can reach out to Shultz through the Residence Life office.

“Employers will take you more seriously if you look the part,” said Brianna D’Itri, a sophomore communications major and another event organizer.

After attending the Leader Launch training for peer leaders, Arnold said that one of the things she learned was to avoid openedtoed shoes.

The training also emphasized the importance of modesty in dressing professionally.

“You can’t have a second chance to make a good first impression” said Arnold.

Campus gets charged up JESSICA ZUROW Staff Writer

jlz5138@psu.edu

It’s Friday, and you have three more classes to go. You are texting your friends and updating your Facebook status, trying to make plans for the much needed weekend.

Then suddenly, right before you can send the text confirming your plans, your phone dies. You are stuck waiting until the end of the day before you can go back home and charge your phone to find out what the plan is for the night.

This will no longer be an issue that Penn State Beaver students will have to face. The campus will soon offer device charging stations in the Library, the Brodhead Bistro, the Student Activities Suite and Harmony Hall.

The charging stations will be equipped to charge iPhone and Android devices as well as iPads and other tablets, said sophomore Brianna D’Itri, a member of the Student Activities Committee, which is purchasing the devices. Each charging station will have its own cords as

well, so you don’t have to remember your cord in order to use them.

D’Itri, who is also a Roar staff member, said the charging stations will be paid for by the Student Activity Fee. Librarian Amy Deunik said the library will also be purchasing battery-powered portable chargers that will be available for check out for a 24- or 48-hour period. This will allow students to conveniently charge their cell phones on the go.

“I think it’s good for students who need to charge their phones,” said senior Morgan Zelkovic.

The charging stations will not be monitored or supervised, so it is in one’s best interest to stay near the device while it charges or to use a portable charger from the library.

Many other Penn State campuses already have the charging stations, including Shenango.

“As a commuter, I think it is a great idea,” D’Itri said.

Deuink agreed.“We hope to have them here as soon as possible.”

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Penn State Beaver Roar

Viewpoints

MANAGING EDITOR Julianne Bosley jeb474@psu.edu

PHOTO CHIEF Kayla Wagner

krw5239@psu.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER Andy Germani

arg5226@psu.edu

PAGE DESIGNERS Brooke Doerfler

bmd5296@psu.edu

Lade King

lak5479@psu.edu

Matt Sweikowski mrs5822@psu.edu

Rob Trhlin

ryt5088@psu.edu

Jessica Zurow jlz5138@psu.edu

ADVISORS Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu

Daniel Pinchot

March 2015

Master’s degrees are not for everyone College seniors, whether they are studying English, biology or something else entirely, hears the same inevitable question: “What are you planning on doing after you graduate?”

Some might envision themselves standing before a group of elementary students teaching grammar.

Others may see themselves working diligently in a lab to develop a cure for a debilitating disease.

Still others might imagine what their first class in graduate school will be like.

No matter what a student’s future plans might be, yet another inevitable question surfaces: “Is it really worth it to get a master’s degree?”

The answer is different for each individual student.

One reason students may hesitate to enroll in graduate school is cost.

According to the New America Foundation, the average graduate student borrowed $29,400 for a bachelor’s degree and $57,600 for a graduate degree in 2012.

For many graduates of a four-year pro-

gram, the price of adding another degree might be too high, especially if students are paying for their education on their own.

However, graduate students might have the opportunity to receive aid from employers or other programs that are not often available to undergraduates.

Students must decide whether or not their future salary will allow them to effectively pay off their loans.

Advocates of attending graduate school often counter that the racked-up loans are worth it for having a better chance at being employed and gaining a six-figure salary.

Evidence shows that while an advanced degree can be good for your career, the difference might not be as much as you think.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the unemployment rate for people with master’s degrees was 3.4 percent in 2013 compared to 4 percent for those with a bachelor’s degree.

The bureau also reported that the average annual earnings were $57,600 for

those with a bachelor’s and 69,100 for those with a master’s.

A student’s intended career might have a serious impact on whether or not a master’s degree would be beneficial.

For example, an engineer with a master’s degree would almost certainly receive a bigger salary than an engineer without one.

For a journalist or someone with a degree in social sciences, though, having a master’s degree really wouldn’t matter.

If you’re thinking of heading straight to graduate school after earning your Penn State degree, don’t let that master’s program be a stall tactic to delay you from having to face the real world.

Employers often prefer an employee with work experience as opposed to a graduate degree.

In fact, most graduate students benefit from having some real-world experience to draw from.

Ultimately, the answer to whether or not a master’s degree will be worth it isn’t simple. It depends on each student’s particular situation and goals.

djp114@psu.edu

Colleges need to do a better job at teaching students about birth control

Some words, such as “food,” “free” or even “sex,” quickly capture the attention of college students. Other words, however, can make even the most confident of seniors turn crimson.

One of those words is “contraceptive.”

Despite the obvious interest in anything involving sex, why are college students so afraid to discuss birth control?

Students may not talk about birth control because we don’t know what types are available, how to properly use them or even where to get them.

Ironically, college students are extreme-

ly uneducated when it comes to sex.

Many didn’t receive much sex education in middle and high school, and by the time we set foot on campus, we are too shy to knock on the nurse’s door to ask for help.

In fact, most public school programs hammer an “abstinence only” mentality into their inexperienced students.

According to Planned Parenthood, only nine states and the District of Columbia require that middle and high school sex education programs include teaching about birth control.

Public schools ensure that future college students remain painfully uneducated about pills, condoms and other methods of birth control, and let’s be honest, the abstinence speeches don’t work.

In a culture where hookups and dating apps are the norm, a lack of sex education and tons of online misinformation creates countless consequences of irresponsibility.

Universities need to do more to provide knowledge and resources that will help students to understand how to make safe choices.

After all, we’re going to “do it” anyway.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: roareditor@psu.edu by the 20th day of each month.

Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number.

ADS FOR CLUBS Free advertising space is offered to any university-recognized organization or club to promote upcoming events.

The space is limited to one eighth-page ad per club per edition. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: roarbusiness@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 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar

News

7

America’s deadliest sniper gets good reviews KRISTIAN TIENDA Staff Writer

kbt5058@psu.edu

When “American Sniper” was being advertised and during its release, many critics of the movie either pinned it as just another romanticized war movie bleeding with America’s red, white and blue, or a movie displaying the sacrifice one sniper made for his country.

Putting aside all biases, this critic decided to watch the movie with a neutral mindset. What I saw was the arguably true story of an American Navy Seal sniper.

The movie begins in the Middle East, seeing Chris Kyle on his first tour after making it as a U.S. Navy Seal sniper.

His first tour takes place in Iraq right after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The first scene follows his first two kills where Kyle has to decide the fate of an armed Iraqi female and young boy. We are quickly thrown back in time to see how Kyle had reached this very moment in his life, showing the chain of events that leads one man to his present dilemma. After the film returns to the current state of Kyle’s first kill, director Clint Eastwood shows us the true nature of war with Kyle’s first shot.

Bradley Cooper, who plays Chris Kyle, stares down the scope of his rifle in a scene from Clint Eastwood’s latest movie, “American Sniper.”

As we follow Kyle through this war zone, we see the impact the war has on not only the soldiers deployed to Iraq, but the civilians living there.

The film follows Kyle through his tours, his return home, and the chase after an Iraqi Shia warlord known as the Butcher.

Throughout the film based on

Kyle’s memoir, his mental state is portrayed accurately by Bradley Cooper. As a man who has encountered the Butcher and as a sniper who has slain his fellow soldiers and the innocent civilians he sees, Kyle has had serious damage to his mental health. “American Sniper” allows us a glimpse into the reality of Kyle’s

perspective of war on the battlefield and at home, through his inevitably skewed mental state.

“American Sniper” is a must see for those who want to see how war truly is from the perspective of the deceased real-life American sniper and the affects 160 kills eventually has on a human being.

Warner Brothers

American Sniper

4.5/5 stars n Studio: Warner Brothers n Director: Clint Eastwood n Bradley Cooper n Sienna Miller n Won the Academy Award for sound editing

Reactions are mixed from students on ‘American Sniper’ MACKENZIE HARTMAN Staff Writer

mch5361@psu.edu

While the film “American Sniper” hit box office highs ranking as the third-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the highest-grossing war film in history, it has caused a stir among some who feel the movie is glorifying snipers.

Sophomore Joe McFarland, who has a strong passion for war movies, said he liked “American Sniper” and doesn’t agree with what some critics

have said.

“I do think the film appropriately portrayed snipers,” McFarland said.

“I think the decisions he made, though unfortunate, were not wrong,” he added.

“I know that if he could have protected U.S. Marines as effectively without ever firing a shot, he would have.”

“American Sniper” is the story of Navy Seal sniper Chris Kyle, who the U.S Department of Defense named the “deadliest marksman” with more

than 160 kills. The Academy Award nominated film was directed by Clint Eastwood. Shortly after the film was released, the backlash arose.

Detractors included movie producer Michael Moore, who released a statement saying that he felt snipers were “cowards” and that films that glorify “murderers” should not be shown to the public.

Sophomore Alyssa Honeychuck, who enjoyed the film, said snipers are necessary to the military.

“I think the backlash that followed

the film was expected, but unnecessary,” Honyechuck said. “It was really showing what Kyle went through because they were real scenarios.”

Although the film caused controversy, the outpouring of support for Kyle’s family outweighed the negative comments they had received.

“It was an appropriate tribute to a true American hero,” said sophomore Chuck Horgan. “I thought the film did a great job of portraying the evils of war with both the war side and family side.”

“For those that criticized the film, I would say they need to stand up and face reality, and not criticize those who watch their brothers die beside them to make your part of the world peaceful,” Horgan said.

“American Sniper” received six nominations at the 87th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Film Editing, and Best Actor in a leading role for Bradley Cooper.

It won only Sound Editing.

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Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

March 2015

A new kind of spy movie hits theaters ERIK MCCLAIN Staff Writer

ezm5306@psu.edu

Paramount Animation

The gang is back on the big screen for the movie “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.”

Spongebob Movie doesn’t disappoint SAVANNA WHALEN Staff Writer

smw5817@psu.edu

“Welcome to the apocalypse, Squidward. I hope you like leather.”

That’s right, leather. “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” made a “Mad Max” reference within the first act. Get ready for one hell of a ride.

Fans of Spongebob’s shenanigans should be happy to hear that Stephen Hillenberg and Paul Tibbit, the writers of the Spongebob that we all know and love (Seasons 1-4), returned to write this insanity.

Understandably, the plot is reminiscent of early Spongebob episodes: Plankton carries out another scheme to get his grubby nubs on the krabby patty formula, while the ever-vigilant employees of the Krusty Krab (except Squidward) stand in his way.

However, everything goes terribly wrong, and Bikini Bottom is thrown into a chaotic post-apocalyptic state, where everyone wears leather and Patrick Star has a hammer taped to his head. Spongebob is

The Spongebob Movie Sponge out of water

4/5 stars n Studio: Paramount Animation n Director: Paul Tibbitt n Tom Kenny n Bill Fagerbakke n Rodger Bumpass

forced to make an unusual alliance to save Bikini Bottom, and from that point everything spirals out of control in the most enjoyable way.

Another plus for fans of Spongebob: while the trailers and advertising for the film made it seem as if the majority would be in CGI, the film is almost entirely 2D animation up to the third act. While the CGI for the characters isn’t that awful, the transition is jarring.

While the plot manages to tie itself together, it is definitely not the strongest aspect of the film. The saving grace of this movie is that it’s self-aware; it knows it’s completely ridiculous and it doesn’t try to convince you otherwise.

The most important tenet of

any Spongebob creation resonates strongly in the film: It’s all about having fun and being entertaining.

While there are problems with the animation and plot, it isn’t distracting enough to not enjoy the film.

There is a sequence in the second act – featuring psychedelic animation and music that can only be described as something otherworldly – that cemented my belief that “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” is a stoner film in disguise.

It all makes sense, honestly – the ridiculous plot, the otherworldly soundtrack, the silly Illuminati and pop culture references. It’s something that hearkens back to a stoner comedy.

It definitely isn’t the kind of film that “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie” was, but it’s so fun and exciting in its own, albeit stupid, way.

Despite some larger flaws, it achieves its goal of being ridiculous in a hilarious and fun way. This is the movie to remind all of us that grew up on Spongebob what we loved it for: fun.

“This isn’t that kind of movie.”

From the most complacently selfaware moment in director Matthew Vaughn’s newest film, “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” this line is the hard truth.

Borrowing stylistically from “KickAss,” another of Vaughn’s films, “Kingsman” sets out to prove that it’s not your average spy movie and it does so by unabashedly indulging in extreme violence and crude humor.

It’s louder and dumber than James Bond and it’s meaner than Austin Powers, and by all accounts, it’s a lot of fun.

The film, based on the comic-book series “The Secret Service”, follows the story of Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton), a troubled young man from London.

After some rough times, Eggsy comes across an opportunity to achieve his true potential through adopting secret agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth) as a mentor.

This is where Eggsy enters the world of the gentlemanly-but-deadly “Kingsmen,” a top secret British spy organization. Meanwhile, eccentric internet mogul Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) plans a global genocide.

The plot is ludicrous, as with just about everything else, but the film fully realizes this and makes it a point to let you know. Without this sense of self-realization, “Kingsman’s” silliness wouldn’t be quite as welcomed.

But Vaughn knew exactly what he was doing, and he did just that. It doesn’t hurt that the cast, which also includes veteran actor Michael Caine, put forth its best efforts to commit to the over-the-top vision with which the film was crafted.

The film is incredibly messy and rife with uneven pacing and missed

Twentieth Century Fox Corporation

Colin Firth plays Harry Hart, Gary “Eggsy” Unwin’s mentor, in the film “The Kingsman.”

Kingsman: The Secret Serice 3/5 stars n Studio: Twentieth Century Fox n Director: Matthew Vaughn n Colin Firth n Taron Egerton n Samuel L. Jackson

opportunities for character development, but when a movie is made with a conscious effort to make sure that nothing matters besides how much insane fun the audience is having, it’s hard to judge based on traditional values.

A fair warning: “Kingsman” is not subtle in either its humor or its depictions of violence, to the point where some will find it downright irresponsible. But if you’re willing to put your conscience on autopilot, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself.

Chances are if you liked “Kick-Ass,” you’ll like this.

“Kingsman” is no work of art. It’s not that kind of movie. And in this case, that’s okay.

March 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

9

International students enjoy Penn State Beaver HALEY PAUL Staff Writer

hxp169@psu.edu

Wenjiao “Claire” Wang, a student from China, knew she was going to go abroad for college, specifically to America, but Wang didn’t want a big place. She knew Penn State Beaver was the right choice for her because of campus size.

What made her transition to Beaver campus smooth, though, was the fact that there were other Chinese students on campus, too.

“I like to talk to the local students, but it’s nice having someone from where you’re from to talk to,” said Wang. “You need that to remind yourself of where you’re from.”

Wang is one of 18 international students enrolled at Penn State Beaver. Campus leaders say international students add to the diverse atmosphere of the campus and improve the experiences of all students, near and far.

This campus has students from multiple countries. In fact, seven different countries are represented by international students.

Until recently, few international students attended Penn State Beaver, said Daniel Pinchot, director of enrollment. But about four years ago, the campus leadership made a commitment to enroll international students, including providing the extra services that international students require.

The number has grown, Pinchot said.

It started with just four, but has grown to 14 new international students last fall. This spring, 18 international students are enrolled, with half from China.

“Everyone is so connected, so you know it’s not just you,” Wang said.

“It was pretty easy to adjust, but it was hard adjusting to the culture.

I grew up in China, so I still have those traditions inside me.”

In China they go to high school for three years then take the Gaokao, which is equivalent to the SATs here.

“The test is much harder and cov-

Keith Willson teaches international student Ana Garcia and lab partner Niklaus Hamilton.

ers subjects from history to chemistry, and we spend three years, which is high school for us, preparing for it,” Wang said.

Pinchot spoke very highly of the international students at Beaver.

“We are concerned about how students will adjust to the local culture and climate,” Pinchot said. “These are students who have set goals for themselves to come to the U.S. for new experiences.”

Like Wang, Ana Garcia came from thousands of miles away and had to adjust to the new environment.

Garcia, an aerospace engineering major from Brazil, came to Penn State Beaver for more opportunities.

Garcia is from Beio Horizonte, just northeast of Sao Paulo.

“I do like it here. It was easy to adapt,” said Garcia.

In Brazil there are not very many places to get certain degrees. Only one college offered the major she wanted, and there were few jobs in the area of aerospace engineering.

“Here I have more companies and resources for my major,” Garcia said.

Sophomore Stephanie Waxler of Rochester said she was very enthusiastic and supportive of having international students in her classes.

“Around here, we are used to seeing the same people because no one leaves the area,” said Waxler. “Since I am local, it’s cool to meet the international students because I like hearing their stories about how it is back in their home country co mpared to here. You learn about other countries from the point of view of someone who is from there.”

Sophomore Ibrahim Bitar may be considered “a local” since he graduated from West Allegheny High School, but the Lebanon native has only lived in the U.S since 2003 and obtained his U.S citizenship in 2007.

“Lebanese people have more opportunities here because there are none there, but it gives you an upper hand being here before college,” Bitar said.

“It was a much easier transition for me already being established in the U.S for attending school here.”

According to Rachel Zughaib,

Penn State Beaver/Cathy Benscoter

Penn State Beaver/Cathy Benscoter

Vina Liao, right, and Claire Wang clean toys at the Women’s Center of Beaver County during Penn State’s A Day On not a Day Off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

assistant director of admissions, the number of international student has increased throughout the years.

“We have a lot of global and ethnic diversity here,” Zughaib said.

“We still have a nice mix of out-ofstate, international and local students.”

The international students at Beaver come from of Angola, Brazil, China, India, Korea, Nigeria and Kuwait. Nine students are from China, three from India and two from Brazil.

“I love the diversity here. I think it’s great,” said Zughaib.

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Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

March 2015

Beaver contributes $6K to THON total

ROB TRHLIN Staff Writer

ryt5088@psu.edu

The challenge of spending 46 hours without sleep is hard, but seeing the thousands of up-beat positive faces of other Penn State students supporting one great cause is priceless.

Beaver sophomore Ana Paula Garcia and freshman Megan Kauth took this challenge head on and showed the true meaning of Penn State “Pride” as they stood next to thousands willing to take on the same challenge.

“I just wanted to get involved, and THON was something I wanted to be a part of,” Kauth said.

Garcia and Kauth were part of the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, which this year raised more than $13 million in a 46-hour dance marathon in the Bryce Jordan Center at the University Park campus Feb. 20-22.

The THON committee at Beaver contributed more than $6,300 toward that total.

Garcia and Kauth spent months preparing for the weekend of swollen ankles and no sleep. However, nothing could prepare them for the emotional experience of being a part of the biggest dance party of the year.

“Becoming a dancer is not easy. It takes time, hard-work, and months of preparation,” Beaver THON CoChair Carla Newman, a sophomore, said..

From the start of THON weekend the dancers were nothing but positive as they were surrounded by thousands of smiling faces all coming together for a cause greater than themselves.

The money raised through THON goes to the Four Diamonds Fund in support of treatment and research of pediatric cancer at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Since its inception in 1977, THON has raised more than $127 million.

Thon attracts not just students from every Penn State location, but countless supporters, including the

Performers entertain the thousands of dancers and moralers that were on the floor participating in this year’s THON.

The Roar / Rob Trhlin

Beaver dancers Megan Kauth, left, and Ana Garcia pose on the floor.

children afflicted with cancer and their families.

It can be hard to accomplish something on your own, but with a whole arena full of nothing but positive vibes and countless inspirations, the possibilities appear endless.

“I would not have spent my weekend anywhere else,” Kauth said while

on the floor dancing during the “All U” hour of THON. Surrounded by thousands of other Penn Staters, the dancers stayed upbeat even with swollen ankles and hazy minds. The dancers don’t sleep or even rest throughout the entire event, and hours and hours of dancing can become very stressful and

tough.

Friends and family were allowed to come onto the floor at certain times to provide motivation and support for the dancers, which proved to be a real inspiration.

“It really means a lot to see everyone coming to support us. It gives us something to keep our minds off of how exhausted we are,” Garcia said with a huge smile on her face as she took a quick water break from the pure pandemonium of the dance floor.

A little support, motivation and a friendly face can really go a long way, she said, especially if you can’t even feel your feet due to constant standing.

Throughout the weekend, the families of the children would walk around and interact with the students who are giving their time and energy to help.

Both Garcia and Kauth took the opportunity to spend time with some kids as they bobbed and weaved their way through thousands of partici-

The Roar / Dante Massey

pants playing cop’s and robber’s with water guns.

“I will always remember that and it really showed me why I was here and why I chose to be a part of THON,” Kauth said.

As the weekend was coming to an end, the battered-but-not-beaten dancers remained on the floor as the total raised for this year’s THON was announced. When the total was revealed, the arena erupted.

Hugs, high fives, and chest bumps among thousands of strangers celebrated the payoff for many months of long work.

Garcia said the scene of that moment is something that will stay with her for the rest of her life.

“I just wish more people would get involved and help contribute to this great cause.”

As Garcia walked out of the arena, the meaning of the event remained.

“It’s for the kids. They are the ones who need our help and I just want to encourage everyone to take part in THON.”

March 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

11

Fewer students offer help for the Littles BEN CLARK Staff Writer

brc5210@psu.edu

Penn State Beaver students move around the Brodhead Bistro at dinner time. Some carry trays between the tables and chairs; others talk with friends about their weekend plans.

Amid the chaos, six students wait patiently for the arrival of their Littles.

Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m., a Big Brothers Big Sisters van arrives at the Bistro to drop off six youth from the southern half of Beaver County.

As the Littles arrive, they bustle inside to meet with their Big Brother or Sister.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is celebrating 40 years of community involvement in Beaver County.

The program matches people from the community and extends the

opportunity of involvement to college students.

Weekly meetings at campus might consist of constructive activities.

Matches, as the duo of Big and Little are referred to, can do many things such as hit the gym, work on school assignments, play video games or participate in planned events.

All of these things serve the bottom-line purpose of positively influencing the lives of children who, for one reason or another, have sought out a role model and mentor.

Junior Jordayne Bryan has been involved with the program since her sophomore year. Her influence has led her Little to open up on a personal level.

“Before she wouldn’t talk to too many of the other kids, but now that she’s been involved, she goes up to the other kids more and starts to

socialize with them,” Bryan said.

Bryan said she remembers more students being involved in the past.

“I think there were more students involved last year. This year, some of them transferred and (the amount of Bigs) isn’t as big as last year.”

Alexia Johnson, a sophomore, was once a Little. She became involved in the program to give back a piece of what she gained through her previous experiences.

“I used to be a Little in (Washington,) D.C., so now that I have the opportunity to be a Big, I’m a Big because I gained a lot from the program as far as leadership opportunities.”

Tiffany Thayer, the Big Brothers Big Sisters coordinator assigned to work with Penn State Beaver for the last seven years, said that student participation in the program is down

from recent years.

There were between 20 and 30 matches at this time last year, and now there are only six.

The program remains here, but the structured parties and involvement from the student body on holidays have gone away.

“A lot of students didn’t return, especially over the Christmas break; I had two or three (Bigs) not come back,” Thayer said.

“I’m really not sure why it’s so low,” Thayer added. “I think it has something to do with the restructure of the service learning. I don’t think it’s required like it was before. We would get a lot of students needing hours completed, and we would ask them to commit to the two years.

Now, it seems that it’s not required, only encouraged.”

Thayer said even a two-year com-

mitment can be tough on the Littles.

“At Penn State, it’s usually people that are here only for two years, so we find that that’s hard on the Littles to go through a new mentor every couple years, especially if they get matched at 6 years old,” Thayer said.

“Once they get to be, you know, 12 years old they might have had three Bigs! So, that can be hard for them to form a friendship with someone new if they know it’s not going to last that long.”

Thayer said that if someone volunteers but indicates they aren’t coming back for a second year, they really can’t use the person.

“That makes it hard, whether or not they’re a four-year major and if this is their freshman year.”

Freshmen interested in participating in the program should contact Thayer at tthayer@bcbigs.org.

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Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

March 2015

Students volunteer instead of sleeping in LYDIA AQUINO

Senior Staff Writer

lra137@psu.edu As Don Sheffield, a Penn State alumnus and retired staff member, was being introduced by sophomore Brianna Ditri in the Brodhead Bistro Jan. 19, he stood on the side of the stage and looked out at the faces of more than 150 students from Penn State campuses in western Pennsylvania.

With an early start to the morning, the students were anxious to begin their community service projects – from helping to feed the impoverished to cleaning and organizing nonprofit facilities – as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. “ A Day On, Not a Day Off.” Sheffield, the keynote speaker for the event, had a different goal in mind.

He wanted to make sure that these students understood why they were all gathered that day, and how the work they were about to undertake would have made King proud.

Penn State Beaver hosted “A Day On, Not a Day Off,” a day of service to show that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is not about just relaxing at home and having the day off.

This was the second time Penn State Beaver hosted the event, which this year was attended by students from Beaver, Erie, DuBois, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Shenango and New Kensington.

Sheffield took the stage, grabbed the microphone and stepped away from the podium. He began to talk to the students as if they had all met before.

“This day is about taking what King’s life’s work and putting in the service and helping your communities.

Helping others is what King wanted communities to do,” said Sheffield.

Sheffield spoke of a personal account of when he learned that King had been assassinated on April 4, 1968.

“I was sitting in a cafeteria at

Penn State Beaver/Cathy Benscoter

Left: Students Sunnie Liggett (back) and Taja Finley help clean woodwork at the Women’s Center of Beaver County. Above: Bailey Kellner works with others at the Beaver County YMCA.

“

“The greatest way to serve is to look for those things that divide us individually, and today that is part of what you’re doing.”

Geneva College when I got the news,” said Sheffield. “My heart shrunk and I felt a lot of the sorrow that this nation felt that day.”

Sheffield, an African American, told the students that as he grew and became a young adult and started adulthood, he began to embody what King was all about.

Don Sheffield

Martin Luther King Jr. Day speaker

Sheffield also spoke of when he was 12 and the YMCA wouldn’t let him into the building because of the color of his skin. His father and other community leaders challenged the YMCA to let African Americans in, and the YMCA opened their doors.

“It wasn’t the children that isolated us, but the adults,” said Sheffield.

Sheffield read King’s words to explain what service really means.

“The greatest way to serve is to look for those things that divide us individually, and today that is part of what you’re doing.”

When the service projects began, groups of students and faculty spilt up into smaller groups and headed to several different places.

At the Crossroads Shelter for Homeless Men in Beaver Falls, a group of students cleaned living spaces.

Meanwhile, another group went to Clinton and tore down one mile of Christmas lights.

At the Beaver County YMCA in New Brighton, a group did regular cleaning, such as dusting and cleaning windows.

Another group went to the Sisters of St. Joseph Convent in Baden to do outdoor upkeep, and another went to the Women’s Center of Beaver County in Beaver to clean woodwork and organize the toy room.

Junior Stacey Wallis, along with her group, brought lunch to the workers at the Women’s Center.

“They were surprised because they didn’t know we were coming. It was random acts of kindness,” said Wallis.

Wallis and her group then went to Friendship Ridge, a nursing home in Brighton Township, for an unplanned stop to hand out blankets and drawstring bags to seniors.

Wallis’ groups’ last stop was the Salvation Army in Aliquippa, where they passed out 200 free boxed lunches to whomever was in the donation center.

“It was a learning experience for my inner self and the communities around me,” said Wallis.

Back at Penn State Beaver, the Franklin Center from Aliquippa hosted a discussion to teach students and members of the community how to break stereotypes and become active in their communities.

Operation Gratitude was also part of “A Day on, Not a Day Off.” Students and Sgt. John Villanueva collected items, put the items in care packages, and sent the packages to troops of the U.S. Military.

“It was an overwhelmingly positive response from all the campuses,” said Ditri, one of the student organizers of the event who is also a member of The Roar staff. “We had way more than the estimated turnout of volunteers. The student leadership of Penn State Beaver was highlighted in planning and facilitating MLK Day.”

March 2015 Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

13

Is your bachelor’s degree enough?

LAUREN REESE Staff Writer

ler5210@psu.edu

Jerry’s Curb Service in Bridgewater serves up unique diner food in a carhop atmosphere.

The Roar/ Andy Germani

Hold the lettuce!

Jerry’s Curb Service features ‘salads’ without vegetables ERIK MCCLAIN Staff Writer

ezm5306@psu.edu

The 1950s are alive in Beaver County, and they’re still serving fresh-made burgers with classic style.

That’s the timeless image and quality Jerry’s Curb Service Operations Manager Fran Benedict strives to maintain for his uniquely retro carhop restaurant, which is located in Bridgewater next to Bruster’s Ice Cream.

“It’s unique because it’s a curb service restaurant,” Benedict said.

“There’s no interior dining. The girls come out and wait on you in your car. There’s very few of those anymore.”

Founded in 1947 by U.S. Air Force veteran Jerry Reed, the restaurant has since become a neon-lit staple in the local community and is known for its distinct service style and fresh food.

“Everything is fresh. We use fresh burgers, never frozen. We do

our own hand-cut French fries. We use real potatoes. Restaurants today don’t have time to do that. We’re cooking them to order. Fresh is big,” Benedict said.

And while Jerry’s does not offer any special discounts for Penn State students, Benedict vouches that the quality of the dining experience is worth a visit.

“It’s a more personal experience than places like Sonic,” Benedict said. “You don’t see many places like this anymore.”

As for the menu, Jerry’s features classic American diner cuisine including cheeseburgers, French fries and steak salads, although some of the more unique and popular menu items come from the “Hold the Lettuce” section.

“Hold the Lettuce” meals are described as “salads without the salad,” meaning no vegetables, thus featuring large quantities of meat, fries and cheese, with a salad dressing for dipping, of course.

Benedict also proudly claims “Jerry’s is the home of the Pittsburgh steak salad, where the fries are on top of the salad. Other places try to claim that, too, but as the story goes, it was us.”

Another unique offering is a Herbie ham and cheese sandwich and a Burnt Herbie in which the ham is deep fried first.

To go along with the 1950s theme, the restaurant is also known for frequently attracting owners of classic cars to its lot.

“In the summertime when the weather’s good on a weekend, you’re going to see a lot of nice classic cars,” says Benedict.

“My favorite thing is the way they serve you,” said Penn State Beaver junior John Fletcher. “It reminds me of an old-fashioned movie.”

Alex Cooke, a sophomore who is now at University Park, says its great.

“It’s a fun place to get some great food and see some cool cars,” he said.

“I love the onion rings there.”

The number of master’s degree holders is on the rise, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Since 2001, the number of mawster’s degrees awarded has increased by 55 percent, with 747,000 awarded in 2012.

With the number of advanced degrees on the rise, some undergraduates may be asking themselves: Is my bachelor’s degree enough?

“Any corporate sphere is going to hire someone with a master’s degree,” said Associate Professor of English Kristen Olson.

She said that it’s a “no brainer” to hire someone with a master’s degree over someone with just their bachelor’s.

Senior Kane Suehr said he knows he’ll eventually go for a master’s degree in his field. “If I want to practice what I want to do, I just have to have it. In psychology you pretty much need a master’s to practice.”

But not all fields are equal when it comes to the necessity of a graduate degree. “There are master’s programs in journalism, and people have them, but you don’t need one to be a journalist,” said Professor of Communications John Chapin.

But he said it’s a bit different on

the other side of communications.

“People in corporate communication, they go on to graduate school and they go for an MBA (master’s of business). That’s a really marketable degree, and you actually will make more money,” Chapin added.

So what goes into the decision of pursuing a master’s degree?

“A lot of people go back to school because they go out and get a job, and they realize they have limited mobility in their position,” said Chapin.

“If you decide to go back, and that’s the right thing for you and it’s going to advance you in your field, that’s great,” Chapin said.

He said that if you know where you are headed, ask yourself if going for your master’s is something you really need.

Olson echoed Chapin’s words.

“Talk with someone in the field who has the kind of job you want.”

Another thing to consider is the cost. For a master’s degree, “the cost for credits skyrockets,” said Chapin, adding that you essentially spend the same amount for three semesters in a master’s program that you do on a typical undergraduate degree.

But if a master’s degree will advance your career, the investment may just be worth it for you, he said.

Master’s degrees by the numbers The number of master’s degrees increased by 3 percent between 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Of the 754,200 master’s degrees in 2011-12, nearly half were concentrated in two fields: business (25 percent) and education (24 percent).

In 2001-02 and 2011-12, the number of master’s degrees increased by 55 percent, from

487,300 to 754,200, and the number of doctoral degrees increased by 42 percent.

Business and education, had increases in degrees awarded of 60 percent and 32 percent, respectively. Education degrees awarded decreased by 4 percent over the same period.

National Center for Education Statistics

14

Penn State Beaver Roar

Features

March 2015

Officials stress St. Patty’s Day safety CHRIS ROTONDO Staff Writer

ctr5138@psu.edu

Every year around St. Patrick’s Day, it is not uncommon for college students to celebrate the holiday.

During this time, however, many accidents, injuries and even deaths occur because of alcohol consumption.

Barb Kugel, campus nurse, said thinking ahead is the best way to stay safe on St. Patrick’s Day. “Have a plan,” said Barb Kugel, campus nurse. “Know who’s going

to be your driver [and] know where you’re going.”

Kugel also said that it is important to eat before drinking, to space out your drinks and to be with people that you trust.

Drinking water or other non-alcoholic drinks in order to stay hydrated is also important. By staying hydrated, you will reduce your chances of getting drunk. Make sure to also keep your blood alcohol content in check, she said. In case of an emergency, do not hesitate to call 911.

Make sure that you also have a

designated driver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 10,000 people in the United States were killed in alcoholrelated driving crashes in 2012.

Students at Penn State University Park have developed their own drinking-focused celebration based on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s called State Patty’s Day, and it was started in 2007 because St. Patrick’s Day fell during spring break.

Over the years, there have been numerous alcohol-related arrests and injuries, so many that Penn State has

begun taking matters into its own hands in an attempt to draw students from the annual State Patty’s Day drinking activities.

The Centre Daily Times reported in 2014 that the university agreed to pay 34 of 35 bars and restaurants in State College for agreeing to not sell alcohol on State Patty’s Day. The university offered up to $7,500 to each establishment, depending on their maximum occupancy.

Similar compensation is being offered again this year for the Feb. 27 State Patty’s Day.

Penn State has also created a new arts festival, known as THAW, to give students an alternative to drinking. The festival, which will take place February 25 to March 1, is in its first year.

Penn State Beaver Police Chief Anthony Budris said the most important thing to remember is that underage drinking is illegal, as is being intoxicated on school property.

“Don’t do something that can jeopardize your career,” Budris said.

“One little mistake can be with you forever.”

More to it than pills and rubbers Experts: Vaping not safe alternative to smoking

KELLY GRANER Staff Writer

kkg5133@psu.edu

Sex. As college students, it is a hobby that is thought of often.

Every day, pills are taken and condoms are bought in order to partake in this “fun” activity without any repercussions.

There are a wide variety of contraceptive options available, and Penn State Beaver students say they use contraceptives often, but few use more than condoms or the pill.

Campus Nurse Barbara Kugel said other options exist. Nexaplanon is a form of birth control that is inserted into the inside of the upper arm and provides up to three years of pregnancy prevention. Depo-Provera is a shot injected into the upper arm every three months. Mirena, a small IUD, can prevent pregnancy for up to five years.

“All of these are becoming popular,” Kugel said.

Kugel also said some students choose to abstain from sex altogether. “No form of birth control protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs),” she said.

Sophomore Allison Crouse and freshman Becci Dischman both said they use the pill and would not want to get the Depo-Provera shot.

Not surprisingly, freshmen Brad Azich and Nick Makozy both use

JEREMY BROWN Staff Writer

jjb5772@psu.edu

The Roar / Kelly Graner

Contraceptives are given out by Campus Nurse Barbara Kugel.

condoms, one of the only options designed for men.

Students said that whoever is using the contraceptive device should be responsible for providing it. The guy should have the condom and the girl should provide whatever contraceptive method she uses.

Crouse says relationship or not, she would still use contraceptives.

Dischman agreed. “I’m single, but my relationship status would not change my usage of contraceptives.”

The guys had different opinions on this question. Both Azich and Makozy said that being in a relationship for a while could mean you don’t need to use a condom.

Azich, who is not currently in a relationship, says that the length of the relationship changes things.

Makozy just recently got out of a relationship and said that long term makes a difference.

Kugel says that it is essential to remember that an agreement must be made between two people when it comes to sex.

“No form of birth control is perfect for everyone. It is important to find what works best.”

Students can visit Kugel in the Health Suite in the Ross Administration Building to get answers to any questions they may have about contraceptives. Kugel also offers free condoms in her office.

Is the e-cigarette a new and revolutionary way to kick a bad habit or just a sporadic present day trend in society?

Not many Penn State Beaver students seem to be joining the trend of using electronic cigarettes and, according to faculty and other health sources, that’s a good thing because they really aren’t any safer than regular cigarettes. An electronic cigarette, referred to as an e-cig, is a batterypowered vaporizer similar to a cigarette.

Sophomore Devin Yaras said, “Nothing beats a good ’Boro (Marlboro), but regardless, both are harmful to my health.”

The liquid inside an e-cig is composed of nicotine and other chemicals similar to the cigarette, though not quite as concentrated.

Sophomore Matthew Cottage has been using his e-cig for nearly seven months after quitting cigarettes.

“They’re better than real cigarettes, from what my friends tell me.”

Health risks for e-cigs are potentially just as dangerous as cigarettes, said Stephanie Petroski, instructor of biology. The second-hand smoke

can also cause potential cancer or birth defects when inhaled, much like cigarettes.

“In 2012, there were a total of 8.2 million cancer deaths worldwide. 1.9 million of these deaths were due to lung cancer. All tobacco products alike are risk factors when lung cancer comes into play,” said Petroski.

The vaping of e-cigs is still only allowed in smoking-designated areas around campus, mostly outside due to second-hand smoke. The smoke contains aerosol, a poisonous chemical and health risk to all who inhale the toxin.

“My girlfriend has preached about the severity of second-hand smoke, and now I’ll take her word for it,” Cottage said.

“Smoking accounts for 30 to 35 percent of cancer deaths worldwide, and with e-cigs that number will likely remain,” Petroski said.

The user can choose disposable e-cigs, which last for a limited amount of time, or refillable cartridges used for a more consistent procedure to help the smoker quit cigarettes at a more comfortable rate.

Instead of using e-cigs in an attempt to quit smoking, Petroski recommended the nicotine patch or nicotine gum as safer alternatives.

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Rohan Murphy inspires Beaver’s students and staff

BRIANNA D’ITRI Staff Writer

bbd5 033@psu.edu

On a brightly lit blue stage sat a man in an even brighter spandex shirt. The seams of his sleeves were pulled taught by the massive muscles they stretched across. The legs of his athletic shorts dragged against the stage as the man pushed himself forward using only his arms.

Rohan Murphy spoke at Penn State Beaver Feb. 18 to a fieldhouse full of students.

“I always felt like I had to prove people wrong,” he said, cupping the cloth-wrapped area where both of his legs had been amputated.

And prove them wrong he did.

He was born with an unexplained birth defect resulting in his legs being formed backward, kneecaps facing behind him.

At age 4, those deformed legs were amputated just below the hip. He spent his elementary school days being homeschooled because he was too sick to enroll elsewhere.

But at 31, he sits on stages all across the country as a champion collegiate wrestler, a Nike commercial star and a 2006 Penn State graduate, recounting his story of overcoming adversity and challenging young people to go after what they want.

“My biggest hardship was learning to accept that I will never have legs.

So, my life will always be different,” said Murphy.

His life is different, however, in a great way. Having loved sports all his

The Roar/Julianne Bosley

Rohan Murphy tells Penn State Beaver students and staff about his life during a presentation in the gymnasium.

Murphy was born with deformed legs that were later amputated. As a teenager, he learned to wrestle despite his handicap.

life, knowing that his disability kept him from playing most of them was hard to accept.

His search for the perfect sport ended with his eighth grade physical education teacher, who introduced him to wrestling.

“It was amazing how he would go out of his way to make me feel comfortable,” said Murphy of his first coach.

Murphy became a part of his

ninth grade wrestling team after learning certain take-down techniques to put his opponents at eye level.

“To take someone down, I’d have to get down low, which was easy enough,” teased Murphy as he explained his technique.

Then, Murphy called for a volunteer to help demonstrate a take down. Freshmen Donnie Kerr and Dustin Winkle, both Penn State Bea-

ver wrestlers, came to the stage. Kerr first demonstrated a take down on Winkle, knocking his glasses off of his face and onto the stage. Murphy then turned to Winkle, the taller of the two students, and swiftly knocked Winkle onto his back.

This is precisely what Murphy did to the Penn State University Park wrestling coach the day he came to try out for the team.

When the coach asked Murphy

how he could wrestle, Murphy retorted with, “It’s hard to explain but I can show you.”

Murphy showed Penn State Beaver students how their small excuses can’t contend with the large excuses that he never used. Murphy defines success as being able to accomplish what you want to accomplish and cautions against letting the opportunity of college slip away.

Junior Maura Frances said that his message of perseverance resonated with her as a student. “He made me realize how many little excuses I use in a week, that I do take a lot for granted.”

Murphy’s mantra is “no excuses,” and he personified it during his stay at J. Robinson’s 28-day summer wrestling camp, where he was trained

by Mixed Martial Art legend Brock Lesner.

Murphy walked in a handstand the length of a football field and back, pausing in the end zones to do a pyramid of 10 pushups while the other wrestlers ran laps.

Murphy attended the summer camp twice and recognizes it as the experience that pushed him into greatness.

“I appreciated hearing that anyone can do something if they know it will take more work than they can imagine,” said Director of Student Affairs Christopher Rizzo. “You have to commit.”

Murphy left the audience with a simple message: “All of it is possible, but it won’t come easy.”

Beaver students excited about Paterno’s restored wins

ANTHONY MCPHERSON Staff Writer

ahm5070@psu.edu

The late Joe Paterno is once again college football’s winningest coach, and Penn State Beaver students seemed to be thrilled.

In January, the NCAA reinstated all of Penn State’s wins under Paterno that were previously lost due to

the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. As a result, Penn State football regained the 112 wins, dating back to 1998, giving Paterno back all 409 victories.

Freshman Eric Gallute said he was happy to see Paterno’s wins restored.

“I was for him during the scandal even when all the information came out. He wasn’t the one who commit-

ted the crime and that shouldn’t take away from his legacy.”

Gallute said Paterno was just a human being who makes mistakes, and his prominence should not have held him to a higher standard.

Paterno, who passed away in 2012 just months after being fired as head coach, was a staple in the Penn State community and could be regarded as

the face of the university.

Freshman D.J. Austin said he liked Paterno as a person. “He didn’t commit the crime and didn’t deserve to have his wins taken. He has no control over the things that he didn’t do, and he shouldn’t be punished.”

Sophomore Vinny Garuccio said that the word “legend” was the first thing that came to his mind when he

heard the name Joe Paterno.

Garuccio said it was the responsibility of the higher authorities to whom Paterno reported Sandusky to do more. He agreed that Paterno’s wins should have been reinstated.

“He deserves them because he worked hard for them. What happened with the scandal shouldn’t affect how good he was as a coach.”

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Winkle says he’ll miss coaching

JOYCE PURCELL Staff Writer

jep5298@psu.edu

Penn State Beaver Athletics

Freshman Alonzo Alzua goes in for a take down against a Penn State Du Bois opponent in the team’s final home match of the year Feb. 11.

Wrestling team stays positive MARCUS SMITH Staff Writer

mas6432@psu.edu

This year was a learning experience for the young Penn State Beaver wrestling team.

Beaver’s wrestling team had six freshman and individual milestones were the focus this year. Sophomore Wendell Rubright is the only returning wrestler from the prior year.

“Experience and leadership is something that took time to find,” freshman wrestler Jim Hilbley said.

Beaver added a couple extra matches this year to its schedule and ended with a 2-11 record.

Coach Jeff Winkle recruited a whole new roster bringing in seven new players. Winkle recruited mostly local wrestlers. Freshman Alonzo

Alzua of San Diego was the only outof-state recruit.

Dec. 6, Beaver won its only two matches, defeating Defiance College and Penn State Greater Allegheny in back-to-back victories.

Beaver ended its season Feb. 7 with a quad-match, losing 40-6 to Penn State Mont Alto, 34-6 to James Madison University, 41-0 to the U.S. Naval Academy Prep and 25-12 to Southern Virginia University.

Beaver had a lot of positive moments in the season even though the team won only two games, players said.

“I feel like we progressed through the season but still in the off season we need to improve individually and as a team,” freshman Seth Schiever said.

Winkle agreed.

“Our team has to keep working hard, because of how young they are.

If they stay together and contribute the hard work between each other, they will be fine,” said Winkle, who resigned at the end of the season.

Beaver looks to be retuning most of its wrestlers.

Recruiting new players for next season will make the team grow even bigger so it will make more weight classes.

“There is a lot of potential on this team, and everyone on this team is special and unique in their own way,” Winkle said.

Hibley said his first season was eye opening. “I know how much work it takes to become a great college wrestler now.”

Coach Jeff Winkle resigned as Penn State Beavers’ wrestling coach at the end of this wrestling season.

Winkle said he regretted doing so, but he needed to resign because of added pressures that came with a promotion at his day job as a land project manager for Columbia Pipeline Group.

He said he has enjoyed coaching here for the past four years, and leaving was a very difficult decision to make.

Winkle is the first wrestling coach Penn State Beaver ever had, and he had to build the program from scratch.

Athletic Director Andy Kirsch­ ner said Winkle will still be connected to the team through his son, Dustin, who is a freshman wrestler.

“He will be missed by the players and the staff, and I am glad we will still get to see him with his son being on the team.”

Kirschner said that the kids really liked him and he has built up the program.

Freshman wrestler Jim Helbley is one of those players who will miss Winkle.

“I will miss him most on a personal level. Winkle is a very good man and coach,” said Helbley.

Helbley said he has been wrestling for seven years and his most memorable moment was winning

Penn State Beaver Athletics

Winkle resigns as he earns a promotion through his day job as a land project manager for Columbia Pipeline Group.

his first college match this past November.

Sophomore Ian Spigler, another wrestler, said Winkle was a positive influence for the team. “I will miss his passion for wrestling and his leadership towards the team.”

Winkle said that he has had the best group of kids this year and will miss them. He said the program will keep growing.

“I will miss coaching the young men on the team,” Winkle said.

“I want to help find the new wrestling coach so we can continue this great wrestling program with awesome campus support and staff. I will miss coaching my son, I love him a lot.”

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Teamwork makes the dream work Fightin’ Beavs are on a title run, and have each other to thank

MARLEE BANDISH Staff Writer

mgb5265@psu.edu

With a championship at their fingertips and just four more games left in the regular season, the No. 1 seed Penn State Beaver inline hockey team shows just how vital teamwork has been for their success this year.

The 6-1 Fightin’ Beavs most recently beat the Community College of Allegheny County 7-0 on Feb. 11. Leading the team with three goals was freshman Jason Schwartz, followed by sophomore Captain Chris Lutz with two and juniors Devin Baker and Joshua Kelly each with one goal.

There are four more games left in the regular season, the next one coming up on Wednesday, March 4 at 9:30 p.m. at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center on Neville Island. The Fightin’ Beavs are then headed for the playoffs, which are set to begin in early April.

The team faced some setbacks

The Fightin’ Beavs prepare to take the floor against the Community College of Allegheny County at Neville Island on Feb. 11.

between the fall and spring semesters with the loss of three key players. Senior Cliff Bryant graduated in the fall. Junior Billy Harrington was taken into the ROTC program at Penn State University Park, and sophomore Mike Martin has been deployed for active duty in Guam.

As a result, the team was forced to rearrange the starting line-up, something that is not always easy espe-

cially mid-season, and new players were required to step up into more prominent roles.

One major adjustment was assistant coach and Penn State Beaver Admissions Counselor Justin Vorbach taking over Martin’s position as goaltender for the remainder of the season.

This decision was made after being granted permission from the Uni-

versity to have a staff member fill his position.

“Overall I think the core players have really stepped up in addition to some of the new guys really making an immediate impact,” Lutz said.

“The new players want to improve and I think their hard work is paying dividends for them.”

Schwartz said he believes that their bonding throughout the year has

The Roar/Marlee Bandish/

helped out greatly with their play on the rink.

Vorbach also admits that teamwork has been one of their greatest strengths this season. “It’s not just a club anymore. The players have developed friendships and bonds that I haven’t seen in past seasons,” says Vorbach. “It’s exciting to watch these guys interact and work together towards the championship.”

Baseball, softball players look forward to strong season KHALIA ADAMS Staff Writer

ksa5120@psu.edu

As the season grows near, the Penn State Beaver softball and baseball teams are ready to get back where they left off.

The Lady Lions finished the 2014 season 5-15 overall, 5-11 in conference, and didn’t advance to the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs.

The Lady Lions will be kicking off this year’s season with their first home game on March 16 against St.

Vincent College.

This year the Lady Lions only have a roster of nine players.

Junior short stop Rachael Charlier said, “Although we might take a small step back this year to rebuild, I can guarantee this team will put in the time and come back stronger than ever.”

Coach Andy Kirschner is looking forward to the upcoming season, despite the low number of players he said.

“Even though we have a roster of only nine players, I’m excited to

see what this year brings,” Kirschner said.

“It’s not about how many players you have, it’s about how much heart you have and that’s what we’re going to go out there and play with.”

While the Lady Lions are struggling with their roster, the baseball team is stacked with players in every position.

The Penn State Beaver Wellness Center has been flooded frequently with members of the baseball squad.

Whether seen in the weight room, getting reps in the batting cage or

throwing fastballs in the gym, the baseball players have been working hard at getting in shape and preparing for the season.

Spring Training will be held in Vero Beach, Fla., over spring break, at the old Dodgers spring trainer facility.

The baseball team ended the 2014 season with a 14-14 overall record, 12-9 in the PSUAC. The team lost in the first round of the PSUAC tournament.

The team also did not make the United States Collegiate Athletic

Association national tournament last year.

“This year we won’t accept anything else outside of the USCAA tournament,” Senior Steve Galmarini said.

“The team has been working together great and it’s one of the most tight-knit groups I have ever been a part of.”

Coach Jack Hilfiger said he’s optimistic about his team’s chances.

“Judging by the atmosphere of the team, I can predict good vibes on and off the field,” Hilfinger said.

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Former Beaver athletes take on coaching TYLER THELLMAN Staff Writer

tmt5197@psu.edu

The coaches for the men’s and women’s basketball team are both former Penn State Beaver athletes who have experienced the transition from player to coach.

“The transition from playing to coaching isn’t different to me; I’ve always had that leader instinct, the guy that wanted the ball, and that’s how I coach,” said Tim Moore, coach of the Penn State Beaver Lady Lions.

“I try to approach coaching the same way I approached playing games,” Moore said. Moore insists that his players play hard and aggressive, very similar to his playing style.

Tim Kubis, in his first year as coach of the men’s team, said his transition from star player to coach was different.

“It was weird at first from play-

Coach Tim Moore

ing then coaching,” Kubis said. “I was around the same age, and played with some guys I had to coach. Then this year we got new guys and I feel more comfortable.”

“Head coaching is nice because

Coach Tim Kubis

you get to build personal relationships with your players, as well as having them come to you for anything. It’s just better,” Kubis said.

Kubis has more experience playing than coaching. Despite that, he

has led his team to an 13-13 overall record, 13-5 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference.

Junior point guard Marcus Smith said, “It was weird seeing a guy we used to play pick-up games with coach us. I think it makes it better. It gives us a different look.”

“Coach has done a great job,” Smith added. “He has good instincts as a coach, and very similar to how a player would coach.” Kubis earned a Business degree from Penn State Beaver and was a four-year starter.

After his playing days ended in 2009, Kubis found a spot on the sidelines as an assistant coach to Marcess Williams who resigned last October to be head coach at Clarion University.

Kubis supports his players as much as they support him. “I remember being in the same spot as these guys as far as the classes go, so it makes it easier for me to relate to them,” Kubis said.

Moore, in his fourth year as head coach, has led the women to an impressive 18-8 overall record, 14-2 in conference play.

“He (Moore) played here a while ago, so we never got to play with him. But he’s somewhat younger, so it gives us a player’s coach type relationship,” said sophomore pointguard Mason DePetro.

With Moore becoming a veteran coach, his approach to the game is consistent.

“He is tough on us in a good way.

He wants us to play every game hard and aggressive, and you can see that in the way he coaches,” sophomore guard Sydnee Abernathy said.

In 2013-14, Moore led the Lady Lions to an overall record of 19-11, 15-3 in the PSUAC. His Beaver playing days were from 1996 to 1998, and he began coaching at Beaver as an assistant coach in 2008.

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Young team ends season in second place Coaching change before season slows but doesn’t stop Lions ELLE GEORGE Staff Writer

erg161@psu.edu

Penn State Beaver’s men’s basketball team fell short against Penn State York in the Penn State University Athletic Conference championship Feb. 24, with a score of 108-96. The Lions ended the season with a 13-13 overall record, 13-5 in the conference.

The atmosphere in the Bryce Jordan Center was electrifying from the second the game started as it was clear both teams came ready to play.

In the opening minutes, neither team gave up more than a two-point lead.

As the first half continued, the score stayed close, and Beaver ended the half leading 40-35.

Both teams came out in the second half with even more momentum. For the first three minutes of the half, Beaver kept its lead. Eventually, York tied the game at 48.

York and Beaver both played skintight defense and never allowed the other team to get a lead of more than three points until the end. With 9:50 left in the game, Beaver lost its lead and its defense was not enough to stop York.

“I’m happy with how we played in the PSUAC championship. The other team just had a great shooting night and made shots when they needed to,” said Coach Tim Kubis, who is in his first year as head coach.

The lead scorer for Beaver was junior Lamont Wright, who put up 25 points, while junior Marcus Smith followed with 21 points.

“Even though we lost the conference championship, I believe we fought hard and never gave up,”

Wright said. “We became a team.

We overcame so many obstacles, and we will go to war with this team again.”

Beaver had a slow start to the season, losing its first eight games. After the team starting gaining momentum, it ended the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the PSUAC tournament, snagging a first-round bye.

In the semi-final round, Beaver somewhat easily defeated Penn State Mont Alto 87-78 at home, leading in scoring through almost the entire game.

“Coming in (as coach) so close to the season made this tough,” said Kubis, who was hired as head coach after Marcess Williams resigned. “I had a great group of guys, so they made the transition easy for me.

Both the coaches and players were young, and we really kept getting better every day, which got us to where we are.”

Senior Tiere Phillips called the season “crazy.”

“We lost our head coach, who took our two-time All-American forward with him. We had a rough start due to the team lacking chemistry, which we soon gained throughout the season,” Phillips said.

Even though Beaver lost in the championship, the whole team seemed pleased with how it played and was proud of how far it had come.

“No one believed in our coach or our young roster, yet we did something special. We made it to the PSUAC championship game,” Phillips said. “I will always be proud of myself and my team for what we accomplished this season.”

Above, junior Tyler Burkhurt reaches for a layup in the PSUAC championship game against Penn State York Feb. 24 in State College. Beaver lost the game 108-96. At left, the team poses with their second-place plaque after the game.

Penn State Beaver Athletics photo

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Ladies bring it home again Third-straight PSUAC title sends team to nationals ZACH ULRICH Staff Writer

zau5001@psu.edu

The Penn State Beaver Lady Lions know all about winning.

With their 82-68 victory over Penn State Hazelton in the Penn State University Athletic Conference championship Feb. 24, the Lady Lions have now won three straight conference championships.

The team finished its season with an 18-8 overall record, 14-2 in conference play.

Freshman Brittany Jackson led the way for Beaver with 21 points, followed by junior Morgan Kurtz, who contributed 14, and sophomore Casandra Flowers, who added 10.

In the first half, the game was neck and neck, though Beaver held on to a slight edge through the first 8 minutes of play. By the half, the match was tied 37-37. Beaver came out strong in the second half, building to a 17 point lead with 7 minutes left. Hazelton fought back late in the game, but Beaver hung on for the win.

“They are the definition of a team. They are a family,” said Coach Tim Moore.

That family gathered in the center of the Bryce Jordan Center court after the game, holding up the large PSUAC Championship banner in the background while displaying the team’s third championship trophy prominently in the front.

The players said they played and stuck together through everything and consider the team as one big family.

“We never gave up on each other. It’s about family,” said senior captain Brittany Mineard.

The Lady Lions came into the PSUAC tournament as the No. 2 seed behind Penn State Brandywine. Brandywine lost to Hazelton in the semifinals after receiving a first-round bye.

The Lady Lions also had a bye in the first round, then easily defeated Penn State Lehigh Valley 90-65 at home in the semifinal game.

The Lady Lions’ season still isn’t over. They received a bid as the No. 2 seed to the United States Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, which will be held at Penn State Fayette beginning March 3.

Above, junior Brittany Mineard manuevers through traffic during Penn State Beaver’s championship-winning game against Penn State Hazelton on Feb. 24.

At left, the team poses with the PSUAC trophy for the third year in a row.

Penn State Beaver Athletics photos