Instress magazine editors grade the work...P2
Healthy eating key to student athlete’s success...P4
March 13, 2012 highlandernews.net
New Dorm Ready for August
By Jake Rakestraw, Reporter
Unseasonably mild weather is keeping construction of the newest campus dormitory on track. According to A.J. Nudo, Assistant Director of Resident Life, the facility will consist of 25 separate dorm rooms. “There will be 21, five-person apartments and four threeperson apartments,” said Nudo. He said one will be accessible for people with physical disabilities. Nudo said the new building’s amenities include apartment style living. “This is going to be more of a townhouse-Gildea hybrid,” Nudo said. “It will have a full kitchen and bathroom in each apartment.” The new facility will also be multi-use, housing three classrooms on the first floor and student lounges on the 2nd and 3rd floors. A resident assistant will be assigned to each floor and one residential director will preside over the entire building. Progress is moving quickly. “You get one piece and that allows you to do so much more,” said Nudo. But progress is raising parking concerns among students. “I understand why the new building is being built, but there is barely enough parking
now for students and it seems that this new building will cause the parking issue to get worse,” said senior Gabrielle Gattuso, a commuter. Senior resident Mike Pená shared this concern. “Now that the new building is up, the university must compensate with the students bringing cars that will move into that building as well,” he said. Robert Zavada, Associate Director of Campus Safety, is confident that the new dorm will not present parking woes. “The amount of parking spots we are currently without because of construction is less than the amount of new students who will live in the dorm,” Zavada pointed out. “There’s a formula you go by when doing construction.” Nudo expects the building to be finished by July, and it will be fully furnished and in move in condition for students in August. Interested students must apply in groups, he said. Interested student trios and quartets can find information on the Room Lottery under Campus Announcements below the Announcements tab on the e-MU home page. The lottery began March 1 and runs until March 29.
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
TWD results in minor fines Metz dining hours Above, construction of the new dorm continues outside of the Anderson Sports & Health Center on Tuesday, February 28.
By Shawn Kellmer, Reporter
Pennsylvania legislators enacted a new anti-texting law that went into effect on March 8. The new law prohibits anyone driving from using a hand-held texting device. Motorists caught texting while driving face a $50 fine. The new law prohibits all drivers from using an interactive wireless communication device to send, read or write textbased messages. The illegal use includes instant messaging, email or other written communication. The law does not include talking on handheld devices or the use of GPS devices, systems physically or electronically integrated into a vehicle, or a communications device that is affixed to a mass transit vehicle, bus or school bus. “I feel it is a very appropri-
ate law. It’s very dangerous to text and drive. I’ve driven and texted and drove like I was drunk,” said Stephanie Sherman, a sophomore at Luzerne County Community College. “I try not to text and drive. It won’t particularly deter people from texting and driving just like speeding.” “I think it’s a good ban,” said Matt Powell, a junior at King’s College. “I admit that I’m guilty of texting while driving and even got into an accident once because of it. I only hit a curb but imagine if it was a person.” According to Distraction.gov, the official U.S. Government website for distracted driving, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2010. The website also states that since 2008 of-
ficials have held two national distracted driving summits, banned texting and cell phone use for commercial drivers, encouraged states to adopt laws, and launched campaigns to raise public awareness. Not everyone believes that this is going to change people’s habits right away. “I feel that it is a very good law with very basic safety concerns, but I feel, that for a while, it’s going to be very hard to enforce especially among young people,” said junior Louie Bronstein. “After the law has been in effect for a while people will probably adjust to it but the initial phase will be hard to enforce.” “People aren’t good at adjusting. They’re just not. People that do have the habit of texting [while driving] will
PATRICK HUNTER/THE HIGHLANDER
Above, sophomore Kenny Ferrier attempts to text and drive at the Distracted Driving stand in the Banks Student Life Center February 22.
be the hardest to change or to get to adjust,” said Bronstein. Sherman and Powell feel that the problem will be with enforcement, “You can get a ticket but what are really the odds of a cop fining you for texting? I’ll bet the cops text too while driving,” said Sherman. “I do not think it will significantly lower the death toll by much but if it saves one person, it’s worth it. It also needs to be very enforced. Nothing is real unless it happens to you.” “I don’t think the ban itself caused me to stop but the accident did. I think that’s a good enough reason to stop. The only way I think it will work is if it’s enforced,” said Powell. “We supposedly have a law where you can only use a hands free phone while driving but I see people talking on their cell phones every day on my way to school.” Bronstein believes the low fine amount will not discourage drivers from texting. “I think if you’re going to hold somebody culpable for texting, I feel that a $50 fine is not enough,” said Bronstein. “This fine might be aimed at teenagers who will have to face the responsibility of a fine instead of carelessly texting and driving, which means the law is not about the severity of the fine but is about safety concerns.” Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed the anti-texting legislation November 09, 2011 after lawmakers passed it a week earlier. The bill was unanimously approved for legislation by The Senate Transportation Committee April 28, 2009. It would have made texting while driving a secondary offense if a motorist has been cited for another violation, a
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By Ellen Hoffman, Print Editor School officials will run a two-week trial period of extended dining hours in the Metz dining hall. The decision comes after students voiced their concerns at a February meeting. The trial period will give students a chance to experience the new hours, which are set to begin in fall 2012. Originally, Metz Food Services wanted to move forward with the plan at the beginning of this semester, but officials decided to hold off. Sr. Jean Messaros, Vice President of Student Affairs, said “a lack of thorough understanding” between students and officials led to the delay. Messaros feels the dining hall schedule change is necessary to accommodate a growing student body. “The reason to move forward with this plan is because of the increase in our numbers, and so to offer extended dining hours gives the vast majority of students the opportunity to come into the dining hall.” Dining hours will change from the current 11 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. schedule to 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Equivalency will only exist in Passan Hall. Takeout boxes will be available during extended hours, and students will be free to fill boxes with their choice of foods for the price of a regular meal. The dining hall will also offer a more extensive variety of lunch and dinner choices. A full salad bar and soup station are two of the perks Messaros said students can look forward to. Sophomore Alyssa Gotzman
feels the take-outs are a good idea that will benefit students. “I like that I can go in and get whatever I want and it will only cost a meal swipe. It’s better than with Equiv where you had to pay for each item individually. I feel like now I am getting more for my money.” Student Government Association President AJ Heintz has worked closely with Metz and Messaros throughout this semester to find a solution that fits everyone’s needs. An 11-member committee was formed after the question-andanswer meeting earlier this semester. Faculty, staff and students on the committee reviewed the concerns and came up with a plan that will best fit the community’s needs. “Metz heard the concerns of the students that there are just so many people in the cafeteria at one time and there are so many people that are at ‘Equiv’ at one time and they needed to alleviate both of those pressures,” he said. “They figured that if they extended the times and added some of the things from the Den this will hopefully solve the problem.” Senior Jonathan Weis, a member of the Extended Dining Hours Review Committee, thinks expanding the hours in the dining hall can only help. “It will benefit the students because it will give them a view of what’s going to happen next semester. I definitely think for the students going through it for the two weeks it will give them a chance to give feedback on the situation.” The review committee will meet at the end of the trial Continued on page 4
Continued on page 6
Viewfinder:
Students Travel to White House
temporarily extended
The Week in Photos
Look Back at MAC Championships Cougar basketball teams end seasons with new records and memories of the NCAA Tournament
Pages 4 & 5
2
highlandernews.net
March 13, 2012
News
Seasoned senior sings ‘All That Jazz’ Instress editors Senior performer prepares to take on the role of Velma Kelly in the upcoming musical Chicago at the Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre. By Gia Mazur, Reporter Senior Shana Weinstock has attorney in the state of Ilinstantly in character.” show, as will faculty member been performing in musicals linois, takes on the women’s Weinstock has performed Scott Woolnough. since she was 10 years old. cases while they each hope to in numerous shows with the “He’s amazing. [It’s amazThe lauded actor has taken capitalize on pre-trial publicLTWB including West Side ing] how he can sing that classes at Wilkes University ity to become famous. Story, Sweet Charity, Rent, high,” said Weinstock of Woolfor 22 semesters and has a Weinstock researched her and most recently Footloose nough’s portrayal of female scholarship in her name. But role by watching the movie in which she portrayed the journalist Mary Sunshine, there is one achievement that over and over and watchfemale lead, preacher’s daugh- who is revealed to be a man at has eluded her: She had the end of the show. always wanted to portray Weinstock explains Velma Kelly in the musithat the LTWB’s version cal Chicago. of Chicago will be differ“Obviously, the show is ent than the 2002 film very risqué, so we didn’t version and the Broaddo it, but for my last voice way production. recital I sang, “All That “We’re doing the Jazz.” So that was my big vaudeville, so it’s comthing,” said Weinstock. pletely different from Her stage dreams came the Broadway show,” true in January when said Weinstock. “It’s The Little Theater of more of a vaudeville muWilkes-Barre announced sical from the 1920s.” it would be putting on The show will feature Chicago this spring. a minimalistic set like Weinstock went out for the Broadway show the show and after three and include an 11-piece rounds of auditions, she onstage orchestra, she DAVE DILLON FOR THE HIGHLANDER said. won the role of Velma Kelly. She thinks her Weinstock hopes to Above, Shana Weinstock, left, and Deidre Lynch pose as Velma Kelly and Roxie background in dance Hart, respectively, for their roles in the upcoming musical Chicago: A Vaudeville continue performing in helped her to nab the role Musical from March 24-April 1, 2012 at The Little Theater of Wilkes Barre. the future, but as for of the vaudeville vixen. now, she’s very happy ing clips on YouTube of the ter Ariel Moore. Weinstock “I’ve been taking dance with this moment in her life. says Chicago will hold a difsince I was 3,” said Weinstock. various actresses who have “It’s like a dream. It’s perplayed the role of Velma. She ferent meaning to her. “Almost 18 years. So, dance is fect. It’s my last show. It’s my even went to see the show on “This is probably going to obviously my strongest point. favorite show that I’ve always Broadway. Weinstock feels be my last show for a while, So, I think I had really had wanted to do,” she said. this is the best way to deepen because I want to go to law a plus from the other girls at Performances of Chicago the relationship she has with school,” said Weinstock. “It’s the audition because Chicago will be at The Little Theater her character. going to be a bittersweet feelis all [Bob] Fosse.” of Wilkes-Barre on 537 N. “Every time I go to the theing when we close.” Chicago is a musical about Main Street in Wilkes-Barre ater I try to leave everything Weinstock isn’t the only Roxie Hart who is on trial for on March 24, 30, 31 at 8 p.m. behind that’s Shana. I try to member of the MU community and March 25 and April 1 at 3 murdering a man. While in make Velma my own little to perform. Madison Bradley, prison, Roxie meets Velma p.m. Tickets are $18 and can person,” said Weinstock. “I Janelle Nemetz and Catherine be purchased by calling (570)Kelly, a vaudeville performer just got the wig and it’s like, Steinhoff will also don their who is charged with murder. 823-1875. once I put the wig on, I am sequins and fishnets for the Billy Flynn, the best defense
Students roar for Crimson Lion The Crimson Lion, a hookah lounge, and cafe proves popular for area college students. By Brittany Hayes, Reporter The Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge and Café in WilkesBarre is quickly becoming one of the trendiest places for college students to socialize and embrace multiculturalism. Hookah lounges features the communal enjoyment of flavored tobacco, a practice that dates back centuries in many civilizations throughout the world. The Crimson Lion offers high-quality hookah, a café that serves up lattes and regular entertainment. “I thought that this idea would really work because Wilkes-Barre is a college town and the main demographic would be 18-20 year olds who don’t really have a lot of options when it comes to late night hang-outs. It would also appeal to the 21-30 age group because it is a good alternative to the bar scene,” said Pasquini. “We apply to college kids, of course, but we get local professors, free thinkers, artists, and musicians as well,” said manager Josh Karis. The menu features cappuccinos, lattes, drip coffee as well as two specialty drinks, Butterbeer, the drink made famous through Harry Potter, and Birthday Cake, a new spin on hot chocolate that includes whipped cream, sprinkles, and Lucky Charms Marshmallows. The Lion focuses on local foods. “It’s really great to keep things local. We get our milk from Hillside Farms,
coffee from Caffe Fresco, baked goods from Sweet Little Things by Maria Bernardo, and Baklava from Pete’s Place Middle Eastern Restaurant , which is right next store. By getting all of these locally we have a good bond within the community, no middle man, and everyone we work with aren’t just interested in only getting the job done, they are interest in giving us the best stuff they possibly can,” said Karis. Pasquini got the idea for the place when an out-of-town friend wanted to go to a local hookah lounge. “There were none around at the time. So I got to thinking it would be a good idea to open one. I was in a job where I had a lot of free time, so I used that time to create my business plan,” said Pasquini. The Lion is not only a place for smoking, Pasquini said. “We have open mic night every Thursday as demand requests. We have had comedy nights in the past with local comedians, book club meetings, and usually one Sunday per month we have shows that are set up by Eric Davis of Get Cryptic who has connections from Philadelphia and New York City and has gotten some really good bands to play at the lounge.” The Lion also has a vast collection of books and board games, and it offers free Wi-Fi for customers. Pasquini expended upon the theme when a friend who
worked in a top-rated New York café introduced the idea of opened that part of the business. The friend returned to his native Wilkes-Barre to help set up shop. “He did research on coffee forums to try to find the best roaster and we came across Caffe Fresco, which was extremely highly rated, and run out of Jenkins Township – only one town over,” said Pasquini. The Crimson Lion is unconventional for the area, but it has been very successful. “It works really well because it’s an opportunity for customers to experience our two products, coffee and hookah, and they are both of the highest quality,” said Karis. The Crimson Lion carries Starbuzz shisha, including flavors such as Pirates Cave, which tastes of lime, Code 69, which is cherry flavor, and blue raspberry flavored Blue Mist among many others. The Lion also carries Staruzz Bold shisha in a bubblegum flavor, and Nakhla and Al Fahker, traditional Middle Eastern brands. Prices vary from $9 for a one hose order to $22 dollars for a three hose hookah, which includes a refill. Patrons can smoke out of regular ceramic bowls, or an exotic carved fruit bowl. Patrons can even choose to add bubbles to blow with their smoke. Pasquini opened a second Crimson Lion in Bloomsburg late last year. “I was con-
make the grade Instress staff members grade each selection for the spring publication. By Gabrielle Lengyel, Reporter Instress staff members are busy at work selecting content for this year’s edition of the 45-year-old campus literary magazine. Two of the magazines literature editors, senior Andrew Corbett and junior John Meholic, are wading through literary submissions, prose and poetry, and grading each piece with a rubric. “If opinions are mixed we will talk about it, what we thought was good and what we thought wasn’t good,” Corbett said. If the piece has an overall good grading after discussion, editors select it for publication. Photography editor and junior Heather Marsicano is evaluating photography. Marsicano rates the photographs and decides which ones make the cut. “I think I’m a little bit of a snot about it, but I have a degree in photography so I feel like this is kind of my forte,” Marsicano said. She uses a letter grading system of A to F, and the overall quality and grading of each photograph determines whether it will run, she said. Junior Matt Wielgopolski is this year’s chief layout designer. Wielgopolski’s job is to take all approved content and lay it out in the magazine’s format. Wielgopolski said the magazine is full color, standard eight-by-eleven inch size. There is no set limit for the magazine’s length. He said he is using Adobe Creative Suite InDesign, a page layout program. “It’s going to take a
lot of coffee, a lot of sleepless nights, and a lot of hours in MEZ5,” Wielgopolski said. The staff believes the hard work is worth it—and they hope to garner some publicity. Editors will select the best of each category—prose, poetry, artwork, and photography— and choose the best of each category based on a 10-point grading scale. The staff narrows the winners by rounds until they pick the top four. Winners are awarded with $50 or $100 prizes, and they will present their work at the “Journey Through the Arts” ceremony. Simko said he would like to hold a cover-to-cover reading of the magazine, possibly in the Blacktop Lounge. “I’m going to get as many people as I can to join us, and literally read the magazine cover-tocover,” Simko said. The staff hopes these events will help increase the magazine’s profile. “I hope it grows. Misericordia isn’t necessarily known for its arts, but there are a lot of talented people on campus,” Meholic said. Corbett is also pushing for an online issue to make it more accessible to the campus community. Marsicano hopes the magazine will someday be printed in hardcover. The staff encourages others to join the publication. If students want to get involved Wielgopolski said to look for informational flyers around campus or on e-MU for MiseriMinute. Simko added anyone can email him personally or instress@misericordia.edu if they are interested in joining.
sidering expanding and was approached by two customers who actually found a location in Bloomsburg for me and they now run the place.” This location is about three times the size as the Wilkes-Barre location and offers events that include a Rave Night the last Saturday of every month. The Crimson Lion is located at 37 East South Street in Wilkes-Barre and is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., and is closed on Sundays except for shows which are announced weekly. Patrons must be 18 years of age to smoke. IDs are required.
The Crimson Lion 37 E South Street Wilkes-Barre (570)208-2909 Hours: M-F 10 am - 1 am Thursday Night: Open Mic Night Saturday 6 pm - 1 am To secure a seat, call ahead for reservations Prices range from $10$30
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
Top, the editorial board for the campus literary arts magazine meets to discuss and grade the submissions before editing can begin. Above, professor and advisor of Instress Thomas Simko directs questions to the editors during a Tuesday meeting.
INTEGRITY STAFF Katlin Bunton - Editor-in-Chief Ellen Hoffman - Print Editor April Dulsky - Web Editor Julia Truax - Content Manager Mary Bove - Photographer Morgan Harding - Web Master Audra Wehner - Business Manager Melissa Sgroi - Advisor
CONTACT US
CONTRIBUTORS Dominick Dellos Dave Dillon Michele Drago James Fisher Brittany Hayes Josh Horton Patrick Hunter Misericordia University 301 Lake Street Dallas, PA 18612
Shawn Kellmer Kayla Kubbishun Gabrielle Lengyel Gia Mazur Jake Rakestraw Grace Riker
The Highlander works to produce up-to-date, clear, accurate reporting. If any information is inaccurate or not covered thoroughly, corrections and information will appear in this area. Opinions and views expressed in The Highlander in no way reflect those of Misericordia University or the Sisters of Mercy. The Highlander Staff welcomes students, faculty and reader response. The Highlander reserves the right to edit submissions for grammatical errors and length. All submissions must be signed. Letters to the Editor and/or materials for publication may be submitted by any reader. Items can be sent via e-mail.
570-674-6400 570-674-6737
The Highlander is a free, biweekly publication produced in conjunction with MU Communications Department. Any full-time student is encouraged to join the staff. We are a member of the American Scholastic Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
buntonk@misericordia.edu dulskya@misericordia.edu
highland@misericordia.edu msgroi@misericorida.edu
highlandernews.net
CAPS CORNER
Arts & Entertainment
March 13, 2012 3
COM students visit Obama’s house
At The Counseling & Psychological Services Center (CAPS), support is available and no concern is too big or too small. Counselors are available to support you in a non-judgmental way using a holistic perspective - attending to mind, body and spirit. Our hope is that through counseling services you are able to create more balance, peace and serenity in your life.
We invite all students to utilize CAPS Center services including individual therapy, group therapy, consultation services, referral services, psycho-educational programs and/or crisis intervention. Services are free and available to all full-time matriculated students. For more information about the CAPS Center and resources visit us on the e-MU tab “Campus Life.” Are you interested in exploring health, happiness, and well-being? The CAPS Center is running a personal growth group that will run for six consecutive weeks. The group will be open for 6-8 people, membership will be on a first come, first served basis, and the time of the group will be determined based on the members’ schedules. This group will focus on the needs of the members in relation to increasing health, happiness, and well-being. If you have any further questions or are interested in joining, please email Megan at mtucker@misericordia.edu.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Idea Exchange & Hot Chocolate/Coffee Stations March 15th from 5-6pm Peer Advocates will be in residence hall lobbies and commuter space inviting students to offer their input about what kinds of concerns and ideas they have regarding campus life and their University experience. Maintaining Healthy Relationships March 20th McHale, Fireside Lounge 8-9pm Sexual Assault Facts & Education Peer Educators will be offering an interactive workshop on healthy relationships. They will also discuss how to help someone who has been sexually assaulted. Location: McHale Hall, Fireside Lounge 8-9pm on Tuesday, March 20th. Food and snacks provided. Awareness Fair April 11th from 11am to 1pm Expand your awareness about organizations and opportunities that support our global interconnectedness by stopping by the tables that will be set up in the dining hall on this date. CAPS Day Tuesday April 17th 11-1:30 pm Join the Peer Advocates, Sexual Assault Facts & Education (SAFE) Peer Educators, Healthy Options Peer Educators (HOPE), Substance Abuse Peer Educators and Active Minds in Banks Lobby on CAPS Day STOP BY in The CAPS Center OPEN HOUSE for food, beverages and some special surprises. Students who stop by the CAPS Center will be entered in a drawing to win 2 Round Trip Tickets to NYC courtesy of Martz Trailways. 3rd Annual Active Minds Screamfest April 18 at noon - National Stress Out Day! Join Active Minds at Noon in Rosenn Plaza (near McGowan Hall) for this 3rd annual screamfest. All faculty, students and staff are encouraged to come out and scream for 10 seconds. Also stop by Banks Lobby from 11-1:30 pm to get information on National Stress Out Day and Active Minds! This is a fun event covered by local media so stop by and have a SCREAM! Sexual Assault Awareness Week Starting Sunday, April 22-Friday, April 27 The Sexual Assault Facts & Education (SAFE) Peer Educators & Peer Advocates will be working together to promote Sexual Assault Awareness on campus throughout this week. Please show your support by attending events that affect so many people. Statistics highlight 1 in 4 college women are sexually assaulted during their college career; 1 in 33 men are sexually assault during their lifetime and 80% of Sexual Assaults involve alcohol. A list of Sexual Assault Awareness events will be available on Channel 10 and other campus media. Please attend and show your support for sexual assault survivors and their families and friends. Mercy Kids Spring Day April 22nd Peer Advocates will host 20 to 25 children (from Mercy Services in Wilkes-Barre) on campus for a day of fun. This yearly event also exposes disadvantaged children to the idea that college could be a possibility for them in their future. The children also are exposed to some positive role modeling from the Peer Advocates as well. (Some of these same children were recipients of the gifts from the Wish Upon A Star program in December).
MARY BOVE & APRIL DULSKY/THE HIGHLANDER
First row left, communication, history and English majors toss pennies into a fountain outside the Natiotnal Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. Right, a student snaps a shot of a carousel in front of Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. during the student media trip on March 2. Second row left, the stage at the National Press Club. Right, senior Michele Drago tweets a photo of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Inagural Ball gown in the National Museum of American History. Third row senior Julia Truax, sophomore Catie Becker, Drago and sophomore Ellen Hoffman walk around the National Mall before touring the White House on March 2. Left, members from the communications trip stand outside the White House after touring inside.
4
Sports
highlandernews.net
March 13, 2012
Women’s team dominates season Time management,
prioritizing key for multi-sport athletes
Women athletes overcome obstacles and end their season with a MAC Championship. By Kayla Kubbishun, Reporter Changing coaches is hard, but changing coaches half way through a season is even harder. Dave Martin, interim head coach of the women’s basketball team, has done the impossible: Not only did he step in as coach midseason after the abrupt resignation of former coach Tom Griffith, he led the team to their first ever berth in the NCAA Division-III basketball tournament. The team only has three losses with Martin as their coach, and ended the regular season 17-10. The women went undefeated at home—70. The team went on a winning streak early in the season with six games in a row, then again later in the season with four in a row. Martin credits the players. “What this team has accomplished is a direct result of what these ladies have done, and they are fantastic, and have done a great job.” With their regular season behind them the girls showed up in their 4th consecutive playoff game since entering the MAC conference four years ago. Along with that, their appearance in the MAC Championship game for the second year made an impact. Loosing in the championship game last year meant beating Kings College this season was the ultimate revenge. Not only did the women get a MAC Championship; they made the first ever bid into the NCAA Tournament for the school. “I think this group is spe-
cial,” Martin said. “I think we have good leadership, I think it’s a close knit group, and I think they care about each other, and when things get tough those come into play.” Martin has a widespread basketball background. He spent five years as an Assistant Coach at Wilkes University, and 14 years as the MU men’s basketball coach which prepared him for his current position as athletic director. “From my perspective it couldn’t have gone any better” said Martin, “It really is just attributed to the girls and the assistant coaches.” Martin’s coaching philosophy may help the team as well. When Martin stepped in that last thing he wanted to do was overhall the program. He just followed to rules, he said. “We are going to guard people, and we are going to play defense, and it doesn’t matter who scores as long as we score.” The team followed his lead, and they have averaged 64.7 point a game. Martin said his players set the tone. “It’s a lot easier for on one person to adjust to 17 people then it is for them to adjust to me.” Martin’s next step is to conduct a national search for permanent head coach for the Lady Cougars. “I think the key is to find the right person to fit Misericordia,” he said. “I think that the key is to try to find the person that is the right fit for our situation as well as someone who can lead and roll model for our young women.”
Student athletes explain how balancing school and sports can be rough. By Jimmy Fisher, Reporter Most college sports involve training all year round and athletes like senior Jeff Slanovec can manage their time and balance two sports with academics. Slanovec plays basketball and baseball and has throughout his collegiate career. He admits it’s not an easy home run. “It’s pretty difficult,” Slanovec said. “You have be able to have really good time management skills and you have to be able to prioritize and look ahead to see when you’re going to be on the road [for games].” In high school Slanovec said he played golf, basketball and baseball, but he said maintaining the balance was a bit easier. Many college teams require year round conditioning and practice, which makes being a multi sport athlete a lot tougher. Basketball and baseball seasons run back-toback, and baseball requires year-round practice. Slanovec admitted that it’s a challenge to prepare for baseball once his basketball season is over. “It makes it more difficult for baseball,” said Slanovec. “I have to do a lot of preparing for the [baseball] season on my own outside of basketball, hitting and throwing on my own as well as have time for my classes.” Stress comes being a college student. Studying, classes, and homework pile on top of the commitment the student athletes make. Slanovec, though, has never had a problem with his grades. “I told myself before I came here, was that as long as my grades weren’t going to slip, I’m going to do both sports,” Slanovec said. “I’ve been able to do both without any negative impact on my grades.” Slanovec’s family and closest friends make time to see him perform for two sports as well. “Because I play both sports I can see them more,” said Slanovec. “My relationship with my family has pretty much stayed the same or gotten better because of the games they’ve seen.” While Slanovec has been a multi sport athlete his entire
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
Top, junior Hannah Seely takes a free throw during a home game against King’s College. Above, the team celebrates a home win against King’s College during the regular season. Right, senior Jesse Robinson takes a free throw against King’s College. The women’s team defeated King’s 68-56 during regular play.
Athletes maximize health in game plan Athletes maintain their health by eating right and resting in order to be at their best come game time. By Dominick Dellos, Reporter Junior Sean Bieski doesn’t own a Ferrari. If he did, he would fill the tank with the highest quality fuel to maximize its performance. The same goes for his body. As a guard on the MAC Champion Men’s basketball team, Bieski keep himself vigorous for games and practices by choosing to eat healthy foods at the Metz dining hall. “If you’re a high quality athlete, you have to put in high quality things in order to compete and to recover,” Bieski said. The ding hall has been under criticism for a soon-tbe-enacted schedule changes via their Facebook wall, but students complaints quickly turned toward what they called ‘sub par” food for Equiv meals. With 13 different sports at the NCAA Division III level, athletes say it is necessary to have the nutritious food in the dining hall so they can perform at their peak. “There’s a variety of options,” says Chris Gray, strength and conditioning coach and offensive line coach for the university’s new Football team. “The main entrée usually provides your protein. There’s always a vegetable, and there’s a deli and a salad bar where you can create something healthy.” In a nutrition packet Gray distributes to players, he informs athletes that they
should aim for meals consisting of 55-65% complex carbohydrates, 25-30% protein, and 10-15% fat. Gray said quality meals are available in the dining hall. “It takes more time, effort, and discipline,” Gray says. “People just want to point fingers. It’s really easy to walk up to that grille, but, it’s up to you.” Men’s soccer player Junior Nick Ferguson said J. Clarke’s Grille is a choice to avoid for healthy food. “Most of the time it’s really greasy,” Ferguson says. “The food there could improve.” Bieski says, “I try to eat salads, wraps, and a meat, vegetable or pasta from the entrée. You can make it work.” Baseball pitcher junior Mike Pena said he eats at J. Clarke’s Grille despite other options. “Not everyone can eat what they want,” Pena says. “But you can be selective and know how much is good for your body.” Perfect nutrition is difficult to obtain at any level of sports, let alone in college, but Coach Gray encourages athletes and non-athletes alike to stay aware of their health. “It is vital to be cognizant of what you are putting into your body,” Gray says. ““To maximize your sports performance there are a lot of things that need to be done from the likes of film study, technique
work, strength training, conditioning, and practice time. One component often overlooked is nutrition.” Gray, whose uncle was strength and conditioning coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, has been a useful resource among all athletes since his addition to the football program’s staff. His tailor-made workouts help a variety of teams in addition to football. “Different sports require different skills,” Gray says. “My goal is to just help athletes understand how to do things the right way. Knowledge equals power.” Chances are if you spot a sports team working out in the weight room, they’re performing a workout made by Gray. “We’ve been doing things in the weight room with high pace and tempo, our circuit workouts are created to build stamina, speed, and strength,” Ferguson says. According to Ferguson, eating properly leads to the best physical results. “The main factor in my workout performance is proper nutrition,” Ferguson says. “Without it you won’t have the energy to do what you want. If you don’t eat right it will show.” With the basketball team in season, Bieski says it is important to stay strong, but not overdo it
“It’s important to just stay using your body weight, doing things like push-ups or sit-ups,” Bieski says. “Stay away from heavy weights to just keep the same strength. You want to be agile when you practice and have stamina when going through a season.” Pena engages in a unique lifting regimen for pitchers, which balances rest periods with pitching outings. Pena has worked with Gray to perfect his training. “Pitchers are a lot different from even position players in baseball,” Pena says. “When we don’t pitch we may do squats or other things to keep our legs strong. In season we do a lot of high repetition, low weight in order to keep the muscle memory in our arms.” Pena said hydration is also important for peak performance because baseball players battle high temperatures in the later months of the season. “Hydration can help avoid muscle injury with such explosive sprints and movements required in baseball,” Pena says. Gray said the key to optimum results is to stay on the program. “If you make an effort to do things right, and you do it long enough, you will see results,” Gray says. “Everything is a progression.”
collegiate life, junior Caitlin Sweeney is just beginning her run. Sweeney has been a member of the women’s basketball team since her first year, and she joined the women’s soccer team as a junior. Sweeney admitted that she does not find balancing two sports to be difficult. Sweeney said her coaches help her get by. “Having a coach to push you to strive for good grades really makes you want to study because if you risk getting bad grades, you might eventually get kicked off the team,” Sweeney said. “Our coach sets up study halls that we can attend to help us get better grades.” Time management is sometimes hard enough to college students who do not play any sports. With only 24 hours in a day, Sweeney says she knows exactly how to manage those hours to keep her grades up, stay and shape, and eat the right food. “When it comes to sleeping I get about eight hours a night,” Sweeney said. “I think from going to class and working out during the day make me more tired so I am able to fall asleep earlier instead of being up all hours of the night. I try to eat healthy and stick to salads and fruits so I can stay in shape.” With soccer having a regular fall season and a spring season, Sweeney said that the sport presents more challenges than her basketball schedule does. “Soccer is more difficult to prepare for because we basically are playing year round since we have the regular season in the fall, and we also have a spring season,” Sweeney said. “While I’m in basketball season they are doing winter workouts as a team, so I try to do both basketball practice and soccer workouts on days when I don’t have a basket ball game.” Like Slanovec, Sweeney has home support. “It’s not difficult for my family and friends to come to my games,” said Sweeney. “They enjoy coming out and supporting me and my teammates.”
Dining hours, cont’d Continued from page 1
period to create a survey to seek student comments and feedback. Weis asks students to contact a committee member with any concerns, and said Metz will also appreciate feedback on their Facebook page. Heintz stands by the idea of extended hours, and he encourages everyone to keep an
open mind. “If you go in with a blank slate you might not like it, but at least at the same time there are no expectations for it to live up to and it can be beneficial for everybody. It’s going to help everyone in the long run. It’s just that people have to come in with a mind set that this is here to help them.”
Student Success Center Presents: A workshop for utilizing midterm grades to create a successful academic plan 12 pm in the Student Success Center (room 40) Use your midterm grades to make a successful academic plan. Learn to calculate GPA and use your midterm grades to plan for a triumphant semester. No sign up is necessary, just stop by.
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highlandernews.net
Sports
March 13, 2012 5
Look Back: MAC Championship Cougar Hoops
GRACE RIKER/THE HIGHLANDER
MARY BOVE/THE HIGHLANDER
Top, the student section rushes the court after the men’s basketball team defeated Wilkes University and advanaced to the NCAA Tournament. Middle, the Cougars celebrate as the seconds on the clock tick down. Above, coach Trevor Woodruff takes the last cut of the net to celebrate advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Right, senior Jeff Slanovec blocks out a Wilkes player to save the ball.
Cougar basketball breaks records Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams ended their seasons with record-breaking performances. By Josh Horton, Reporter MU basketball teams had stellar seasons and made leaping strides, both within school records and D3 basketball. Men’s head coach Trevor Woodruff summed up the 2011-2012 men’s basketball season best following the Cougar’s 84-65 NCAA Tournament opening round loss. “There are some people who would say making the NCAA Tourney and losing by 20 isn’t a great year,” Woodruff said. “But we did things this year that we have never done at our school. We had something special, which makes it even more difficult to see it end. They are great, great men and I am proud to be their coach.” Forget the score, the fact that the team made the NCAA Tournament is all proof of a significant achievement. The team had never made the NCAA Tournament. This year, they did. It was far from an easy road for the Cougars en route to
their first NCAA Tournament bid. Not many teams open conference play by losing three of four and go on to win the conference. MU did. They had the perfect balance of senior leadership in Jeff Slanovec, Ethan Eichorst, and Chris Undersinger. In addition, junior Steve Artzerounian, sophomore Matt Greene, and first years Joe Busacca and Cael Evans also had terrific seasons for the Cougars. It is easy to notice just how well this team plays together. There were no ego issues, everyone played their part and it ended up being a special season. “The guys really enjoy each other. They play well together and share the basketball. They are all committed to the same goal and I think they really enjoy seeing their teammates succeed, which isn’t always the case,” Woodruff said. “So when you have that, talented guys that play together, play
with enthusiasm and play for one another, you’re a threat to beat anybody you play.” They didn’t beat New York University, but they did champion many other teams – 21 of them—a school record. Seniors Ethan Eichorst and Jeff Slanovec both finished their careers with a bang as they flew past the 1,000-point mark. The women also end with notable firsts. They defeated Kings College and also took a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Like the men, they too ended up losing in the opening round. The Lady Cougars traveled to Medford, Massachusetts to take on the Tufts University Jumbos. Despite a late game run, they ended up losing the game 61-57. Most impressive is how resilient and hard working both teams were throughout their entire seasons. Not many basketball teams
have been through more challenges than the Lady Cougars: Midway through the season, former head coach Tom Griffith resigned his position, and athletic director Dave Martin became the team’s interim head coach. He brought an enormous amount of basketball knowledge, intensity and passion to the bench and the team bought in quickly. A game-winning match against King’s College Lady Monarchs proves it. MU’s Christine Marks became the all time leading scorer in the history of women’s MU women’s basketball, Jesse Robinson finished her stellar career, and Tyann McDaniel is now the best three point shooter in school history. The achievements brought sports fans to the games. At a school where most people go home on weekends, the Anderson Center was filled to capacity—on a Saturday—for the MAC Championship game.
Wilkes-Barre Scranton Night Out is THE premiere website for planning your evening. Whether you want to hit the clubs, catch a concert, see a movie, or just chill at a bar: Check out WBSnighout.com for entertainment listings! Don’t forget to browse our weekly contests! By entering our contests you have chances to win dinners, trips, concert and sport tickets and more! Also, check out the column, How to Survive College Life by Misericordia’s April Dulsky. The column features college tips and tricks!
6 highlandernews.net
March 13, 2012
Arts & Entertainment
Twilight takes bite out of Eww Yaboo A local band breaks into the music industry after being featured on the upcoming Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 soundtrack. By Brittany Hayes, Reporter Eww Yaboo, a local “gutterpop” band from Wilkes-Barre, recently signed a publishing deal with Los Angeles-based company Benair Churchill and these fellows have wasted no time using this opportunity to their advantage. Two thirds of Eww Yaboo, Nate Andreoli and Drew Carsillo, are y proud of the progress they’ve made and are excited to see what the future holds for them. Nate Andreoli said of the publishing contract, “Anything that we record as a band can be licensed through Benair-Churchill to be used for things such as movie soundtracks, commercials, etc.” Benair-Churchill has been known for publishing underground, yet beloved artists such as – Rubblebucket, The Van Jets, and Light FM to name a few.
Eww Yaboo signed this contract in later January. “We signed this so we can get paid for the music we are making. We want to use it to give the band more exposure and recognition,” said Carsillo. “We want this publishing deal to help us to be able to play music full time, to make a living off of touring around,” said Andreoli. Eww Yaboo will already have a song featured on the upcoming Twilight “Breaking Dawn Part II” soundtrack this year. The guys hope to one day make the band a career. “We expect to have to continue having day jobs, but the ultimate goal is to continue recording and playing shows until we reach the level that we won’t have to have a dayto-day job,” says Andreoli. Eww Yaboo was formed
in winter 2008 when both Andreoli and Carsillo were living in Brooklyn, NY. The two have been friends since middle school. “We have both been in bands together on and off since we were 14,” said Carsillo. Soon after the formation of Eww Yaboo the guys moved back to the town they call home for the majority of their childhoods. “We moved back to Wilkes-Barre in the summer of 2009 and just spent the year writing and recording songs until we solidified the lineup. We started playing local shows in the summer 2010,” said Andreoli. Eww Yaboo’s style is unlike many local bands. “Our friend Eric Davis dubbed us ‘GutterPop,’ It’s more so of an aggressive style of pop, but not quite pop-punk,” says Andreoli. Their music is upbeat and
TWD results in minor fines, cont’d Continued from page 1
$100 fine. The website also states that the law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers. According to www.pasentategop.com exceptions to the new law will include drivers contacting 511 service, 911 or wireless E-911, when a vehicle is stopped due to traffic obstruction and the vehicle is in park or neutral, operators of emergency vehicles, coroners, or volunteer emergency responders while engaged in their official duties, and amateur radio operators. Pennsylvania is the 35th state to have passed such a law banning the practice of texting while driving.
Right, students test out the driving simulator in Banks Student Life Center while an administrator looks on. PATRICK HUNTER/THE HIGHLANDER
danceable but still stays true to their punk roots. “I think we are everything that’s great about music today,” said Carsillo. The group draws influence from many different sources, musically and beyond. “I think we’re mainly influenced by bands such as The Wipers, Television, the list goes on,” said Andreoli. “I’m really influenced by a lot of different things. Nikki Sudden is definitely a big one. Just all of the greats. I also take inspiration for music from not just bands and artists, but also comedians – Mitch Hedberg for instance is a big influence on my life and my music,” said Carsillo. Eww Yaboo put out their first EP on Halloween of this past year entitled, “Yeah, What?” released by Summersteps Records based out
of Scranton. The guys are looking to put out another EP by late summer or early fall of this year. “Yeah, What?” is available on seven inch vinyl or digital download on iTunes. “We’re currently trying to find a new bass player, working on getting another EP out in the near future, and writing more songs,” said Andreoli. The music catalog for the band is growing at a rapid pace. “As of right now, we have about 30 songs written, but a set of about 12 completely finished ones. We have a lot of songs that we are working on,” said Carsillo. Their ambitions for the near future include a few “mini tours” and just playing around. “That is, if we don’t self-destruct by then,” joked Carsillo. Eww Yaboo has played in almost all of the ma-
jor cities in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and surrounding states. “We’ve played at Death by Audio in Brooklyn and at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia,” said Andreoli. “The out of town shows are always a lot of fun,” added Carsillo. Eww Yaboo still holds home as a special spot. “We love playing at The Crimson Lion Hookah Lounge in WilkesBarre. All of our friends come out and it’s a great time,” Andreoli said. “We’re just determined to stick with this and just do it. I mean, we have no serious careers or intentions on having one. We play music and this is really all we’ve got. We are not going to give up on this,” said Andreoli.
Anti-Texting Law Quick Facts: • The law prohibits as a primary offense any driver from using an interactive, wireless communication device (IWCD). • IWCD includes a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices. • IWCD does not include the use of a GPS device, a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle. • In 2010 there were 13,790 crashes in Pennsylvania where distracted driving played a role. • Nationwide 34 states and the District of Columbia have already banned texting while driving. For more information go to pa.gov.