April 2010 Edition

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APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

News

Bill extends health benefits for graduates Travis Whalen STAFF WRITER tjw5194@psu.edu

Buried deep in the health care bill is some great news for college students.

Signed into law on March 23, the new health care system will provide health insurance to young adults up to age 26 under their parents’ plans.

This will give post-college students a few years of breathing room to find a job with health benefits.

What does this mean for students at Penn State Beaver?

“It’s a bit of a relief for students graduating college,” said Director of Enrollment Dan Pinchot.

Pinchot recalled having to find work immediately after he graduated. Under the previous legislation, Pinchot said he had no health insurance until he found a job that provided it.

So instead of finding a job he wanted, he settled for a job at WalMart.

“As soon as I graduated, I had to find a job that had health benefits.

So I began work at the Wal- Mart.

It wasn’t because I wanted that particular job, but I had to find a job with health benefits. Because of this bill, students will still be covered once they graduate.”

Amanda Brobeck, a 2008 graduate of Penn State Beaver and former Roar managing editor, knows all too well what graduating and realizing you having no health insurance can do to you.

“It’s always on my mind. Any time I feel an ache or pain, I just hope it isn’t cancer or something. I

“It’s always on my mind. Any time I feel an ache or pain, I just hope it isn’t cancer or something. I wouldn’t be able to afford it if it was.”

Amanda Brobeck

“The health care bill is the most unconstitutional thing I have ever seen. It will cripple our economy and destroy everything this country was founded on.”

Dan Vish

Uninsured Penn State Beaver alumna

Freshman, opponent of the new health care law

wouldn’t be able to afford it if it was,” Brobeck said.

Brobeck, who now lives in New York City, waitresses for a restaurant in the city. This job doesn’t provide her any health insurance, which is tough for the 26-year-old.

“It’s hard. It would be nice to have the health benefits, for sure,” Brobeck said.

But Brobeck said she feels the best part about the new bill is that there is not a lifetime limit to health coverage.

Many people’s health coverage will simply run out when they reach a certain dollar amount. The reform omits a lifetime amount.

“My one friend, who is only 28, has thyroid cancer. She recently got a letter in the mail saying she has used 75 percent of her lifetime coverage amount to treat the cancer. So, what is she supposed to do when it gets to 100 percent? It’s scary,” Brobeck said.

Brobeck says the old system made a dramatic switch from

being service-based to businessbased. That, she said, is where it went wrong.

“Health care shouldn’t be a privilege of the wealthy. It is a human right that everyone should have access to.”

As with any new legislation, there are those who oppose it.

“The health care bill is the most unconstitutional thing I have ever seen. It will cripple our economy and destroy everything this country was founded on,” freshman Dan Vish said.

Although that seems unlikely to the bill’s supporters, Vish insisted that health care under government control will only hurt people in the long run.

“Just look at Canada’s prime minister (Jean-Pierre Raffarin). He had to get his gallbladder removed a few weeks ago, and the Canadian government told him he would have to wait 120 days to get the procedure done,” Vish said.

“He may have died in that span

of time, so he came to the U.S. and paid cash for it and got it done in the same day. Now, he is back at work and healthy again.”

“He didn’t have to be approved here. He was able to get it done because of our current system,” he said.

Scott Garbera, a sophomore, believes the bill should benefit the working citizens.

“People who are employed or are really trying to find work deserve health coverage. I just don’t want to see it go to people who don’t do anything and then want health benefits,” Garbera said.

“But I do feel the health bill is a good thing. It has some good stuff in it.”

While some students have passionate feelings about the bill one way or another, many don’t have anything to say. Out of 25 randomly questioned people in the Bistro, 15 said they didn’t have any idea what the health care bill was really about.

Gail Gray, the financial aid coordinator for Penn State Beaver, knows exactly what this bill is about.

“There are about 48 million people without health insurance who will now be able to get an affordable policy at lower rates,” she said.

A Democrat, Gray was a strong advocate for the legislation and even picketed outside of the Aliquippa office of U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, a conservative Democrat who ultimately voted against the legislation over concerns related to Medicare changes.

Gray’s activism is nothing new: she campaigned for Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election and has been involved in politics since age 17 during the Jimmy Carter era.

And she’s thrilled the bill passed, despite Altmire’s objections.

Gray pointed out that the changing job market for young adults won’t be a factor in getting health insurance anymore.

“Since young people more often switch jobs, they won’t need to worry that their health insurance is tied to their employment,” she said.

“By 2014, the health insurance exchanges will be up and running and will offer affordable, highquality plans from which they can choose, and many will receive tax credits to help them afford it.”

Gray speaks from experience.

Until she was hired full time in higher education, she was without health insurance.

“I did not see a doctor in the entire time from age 18 until over 30 because I could not afford it.

Luckily, I was in good health and had no unfortunate accidents,” Gray said.

Gray said supporting health care reform is just a matter of morality.

“I know people who have lost everything because of an unforeseen illness, and people who have died because they didn’t have health insurance. I believe it is a moral obligation to make sure no one else has to suffer crippling debt, bankruptcy or death simply because they were not as lucky or fortunate as those of us who have health insurance.”

The Roar is looking for a few good reporters.

Sign up for Comm 001 now, and we’ll see you in the fall.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 3

News Some people complain that the health care bill goes too far and is too costly. Others say it doesn’t go far enough in providing universal coverage. What do you think of the health care bill?

“I agree with the health bill…GOBAMA!”

“I like the idea of the government in control. Private health care is focused on the profit, not helping people.”

Maria Corradi

Freshman

Jennifer McDonald

Sophomore

“ You have to find a happy medium between governmentcontrolled and private healthcare.”

Dan Snyder

Sophomore

“Other government programs like Medicare and Medicaid have all run fine, so I don’t see why this one wouldn’t work.”

Russell Catanzatrite

Sophomore

“It’s going to impact people’s health and living in a very good way.”

Jordan Lindsey

Freshman

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APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

News

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/JUSTIN VORBACH

New RAs chosen to rule Harmony Hall

Robin Schreck, bottom left, and Judson Sammons, bottom right, look up at their new residence life staff, while senior RA Jen Hain says goodbye to Penn State Beaver because she’s graduating in May. Chosen as 2010-2011 resident assistants are Noelle Miloszewski, top left, Seth Edwards and Steven Dusicsko, top right, Maria Shamsi, middle left, and Lucas Morack, middle right.

Abigail Pflugh STAFF WRITER arc180@psu.edu

Freshman Steven Dusicsko and juniors Noelle Miloszewski and Lucas Morack were named new resident assistants for Harmony Hall beginning fall 2010.

Two current RAs, juniors Seth Edwards and Maria Shamsi, will continue in their roles.

Twenty-one students applied for the five open positions, making the selection process very competitive, said Residence Life Coordinator Judson Sammons.

Dusicsko, Miloszewski and Morack all said they are very excited about the opportunity, but all agree they were up against some

serious competition.

“I was stoked! I knew I had tough competition, so I wasn’t sure how likely I would be to get a spot, but when I found out, I was pumped,” Dusicsko said.

Miloszewski was also very excited when she received the news. “With all the qualified applicants, it was a toss-up to who would be chosen,” she said.

Morack was offered a position on a conditional basis depending on the number of students living on campus next semester.

“I felt honored that they picked me even on a conditional basis, especially with the competition I had.”

According to Sammons, there are many benefits to being an RA.

They receive free room and board, including a meal plan, which alone is an $8,000 value. In addition, RA’s receive a $500 academic stipend.

Being an RA is excellent for career preparation because it improves communication and managerial skills, Sammons said.

RAs are also able to form close bonds with the people on their floor. “This experience is an excellent opportunity to develop and gain self-confidence,” Sammons said.

The selection process began by weeding out applications based solely on criteria such as grade-point averages, Sammons said.

Remaining applicants participated in group activities to show their leadership, interpersonal and communications skills.

A selection committee also conducted one-on-one interviews with the students.

Sammons said one of the qualities that made these students stand out as the most obvious choice was their personalities.

“All three of these students are involved on campus. They know a lot of people, and they have strong interpersonal skills. I felt that they could create a place that the students enjoy and feel comfortable living in,” Sammons said.

Jen Hain, a current RA who is graduating this semester, said she feels that being an RA was a great experience for her.

It has impacted her both personally and professionally and helped her to build positive relationships, she said.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 5

News

COMMON HOUR CONGESTION CREATES PROBLEMS

Beaver experiences club chaos James Hustead STAFF WRITER jmh645@psu.edu

The choices are endless. Either go to a radio club, business club, or Student Government Association meeting, eat lunch, go to a computer lab, do homework, catch up with the latest gossip or study for a test.

Common hour seems to be an automatic choice for most clubs.

But the choice of this time is creating competition among the clubs.

“It’s making the students have to choose between clubs,” Robin Schreck, coordinator of student activities, said.

Some students understand club congestion all too well.

“It’s just hard because basketball requires study halls during every common hour, plus I am in Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Gay Straight Alliance, business club and radio club - and they all meet during common hour,” junior Jasmine Green said.

“It’s ironic, but it seems common hour has become too common” said junior Lucas Morack, who is a member of the business club and Lion Ambassadors.

PENN STATE BEAVER CLUBS

Alpha Phi Omega Petitioning Group Big Brothers/Big Sisters Mentoring Program Blue and White Society Book Club Business Club Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) Game Room Club Gay-Straight Alliance

Hockey Club Lion Ambassadors Panorama Literary Magazine Psychological Society Student Government Association (SGA) The B.E.A.V Club The Roar Student Newspaper THON Varsity Club WBVR Radio

“This whole situation kind of makes me wish there was an uncommon hour. If that makes any sense?” Morack said.

Contributing to the congestion are mandatory SGA meetings, club presidents’ meetings and freshmen orientation speakers during common hour.

“It’s important for students to have these meetings, but common hour is the worst time to have them,” Green said.

Ironically, SGA President Claryssa Borroughs couldn’t meet for an interview on this story

because of a conflicting SGA meeting and a busy common hour schedule.

Some clubs in the past haven’t been able to withstand this competitive environment, including last semester’s robotics club.

“Conflicting schedules caused the club to fail. The college life is just very busy. It’s hard to find time for anything,” junior Raja Jasper said.

In a lot of cases, the number of clubs meeting at the same time is making students feel very overwhelmed. “It’s like this juggling

act, trying to manage all these activities at once. It got to the point where I had to skip one meeting to attend another,” Green said.

Schreck said there are no easy solutions.

“We might have to limit how long club meetings are, or which ones are allowed to have the common hour as their meeting time,” Schreck said.

The concern Schreck has is that she doesn’t want to discourage new clubs from forming.

“It takes a lot of work to create a club,” Schreck said. If clubs have to follow a set of rules for when meetings can take place that might be the nail in the coffin for new clubs.

Green agreed that new clubs have challenges. “I think it’s very hard. I personally wouldn’t want to start a new club. There is already so much competition over when to have meetings.”

Some of the ideas students and faculty have for finding time for club meetings are extending common hour, shortening meeting times and meeting after classes are finished.

Clubs in the past have tried to find time after classes but have found it’s more difficult than they would have assumed. ”It’s not like high school. We have jobs and responsibilities. It’s hard to meet after class: people are busy,” Morack said.

However, the Gay Straight Alliance on campus is using a type of hybrid approach for its scheduling needs.

“What we do is simple. We send out an email one week before the meeting. Then the members email back and say what time and day they are free, and then we figure out the best time for everyone,” Green said “I think what it comes down to is just better organization between the clubs and students,” Schreck said. Instead of clubs competing against one another, working together could solve the club congestion issue completely, she said.

As for new clubs, there’s hope, including club presidents meetings so clubs can collaborate and solve issues.

“I started the meetings to figure out these kinds of issues,” Schreck said.

PANORAMA

PennStateBeaver’sJournalofthe Arts is HERE! Pick upa copyintheStudentActivitesSuiteorthelibrary beforetheendofthesemester!

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APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Faculty win university awards News

Adam Davidson STAFF WRITER ajd5324@psu.edu

JoAnn Chirico, senior instructor in sociology, and James Hendrickson, instructor in engineering, have received two prestigious university-wide awards from Penn State.

Chirico received the Multicultural Resource Center Faculty/Staff Diversity Recognition Award.

For years, Chirico has promoted a sense of multiculturalism on campus – a fact evidenced by her involvement in the Penn State Reach Out program. “(Reach Out) helps students understand the world around them … and exposes them to some new work with people from different backgrounds,” Chirico said.

She’s also an active member of the Campus Climate and Diversity Committee, Penn State Commission for Women and the Voices Against Violence group that promotes awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Chirico said she’s proud of what the award stands for.

“Each student – regardless of race, color, ethnicity – should achieve as much as they can,” Chirico said.

Beaver alumna Heather Papinchak, a graduate student at the University of California-Berkeley, nominated Chirico after hearing about the award earlier this year.

“Dr. Chirico’s grand poise, eloquence, openness and ability to communicate, hold, and inform others about multicultural issues impacted my development as an individual,” Papinchak said.

“I investigated the qualifications for the award and knew that Dr. Chirico was a hot pick,” she said.

Hendrickson, meanwhile, received the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society Outstanding Teaching Award. Hendrickson’s award was given in part for his lifelong dedication to the field of engineering. He’s also a Penn State engineering alum, having began his education at Beaver campus.

As an instructor, Hendrickson has enabled students to put themselves to work on a number of hands-on projects such as the restoration of Gaston’s Mill in Ohio’s Beaver Creek State Park.

Other class design projects have included the reverse engineering of the Bessemer Oil Field pumping engine project sponsored by

THE ROAR/JUSTIN VORBACH

Above, Jim Hendrickson poses on a “riding-barrow” with freshmen Dan Domsic, Nick Hovanec and Ryan Jones. The contraption, which was designed to transport materials on campus, was created by the students for Hendrickson’s engineering design class.

“Dr. Chirico’s grand poise, eloquence, openness and ability to communicate, hold, and inform others about multicultural issues impacted my development as an individual.”

THE ROAR/CATHY BENSCOTER

JoAnn Chirico instructs freshman Derreck Brown and junior Jennifer Vaughan during her race and ethnic relations course.

Hendrickson worked as princiHendrickson holds a number of Moraine State Park/Muddycreek Historical Oil Field Site and a U.S. patents for his work on ther- pal engineer for Mine Safety wind power generation project at mal imaging, power generation Appliances Company in Cranberry Township and was also senior and person protective equipment.

Beaver campus.

Heather Papinchak

Beaver Alumna

engineer for Westinghouse Electric Corporation’s Science and Technology Center and Nuclear Service Divisions in Pittsburgh.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

News

PAGE 7

BEAVER GRAPPLES WITH LOW STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

SGA elections fall flat Matt Jones

ASSISTANT ASSIGNMENT EDITOR msj145@psu.edu

THE ROAR/ CATHY BENSCOTER

Justin Vorbach, junior, poses with Director of Student Affairs Chris Rizzo after recieving this year’s Walker Award.

Vorbach wins Walker Award Justin Vorbach, a junior business major, received the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award, the university’s highest student honor, at the 42nd annual Penn State Beaver Spring Awards Banquet held April 16.

The Walker Award recognizes a student’s highest achievements in and out of the classroom at each Penn State campus.

Vorbach is the art editor for The Roar, president of the Hockey Club, a member of the Business Club and a Lion Ambassador.

Senior Jacquelyn Matotek was a Walker Award finalist.

Other student academic awards: Gar ry Jac ob s, Applied Psychology Award Kevi n St intz i, Applied Psychology Department Award Ga rret t M cCullo ugh, Business Award Jennifer Hain, Communications Award M at th ew Jones, Journalism Department Award Eugene Meidinger, Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Award Valerie Cycholl, Information Systems & Development Option IST Department Award D u s t i n B a x a , Integration Option IST Department Award Francis Ngo, Finance Department Award Fallon Resavage, Elementary

Education Department Award James Chavanic, Architectural Engineering Department Award E ri c Ya nk o v ic , Mechanical Engineering Department Award Benjamin Buzonas, Computer Engineering Department Award Christopher Marcocci, Computer Science Department Award R a ch a el H a r t m a n, English Department Award E r i c B r i n k , Mathematics Department Award Catherine Sittig, President’s Freshman Award Tony Chen, Honors Program Certificate S e a n D i c k e y, Honors Program Certificate B r a nd o n Ga r d n er, Honors Program Certificate M i c h a e l La c e ne r e, Honors Program Certificate Andr ew Reda, Honors Program Certificate Cry stal S mith, Honors Program Certificate Lindsay S oltis, Honors Program Certificate S eth E dward s, Student Life Award J e r e m i a h G o r r e l l , Student Life Award Claire Kraynak, Student Life Award M aria Sham si, Student Life Award Justin Vorbach, Student Life Award

On April 28, the Student Government Association will hold its annual elections with Pradeep Karunanidhi, freshman, runing unapposed for president.

The elections were origionally schedule for the week of April 12 but at the time, no one was on the ballet to run for any of the open positions.

It’s an unprecedented situation for SGA. Amy Gartley, associate director of student affairs, said this has never happened in the nearly 20 years she’s been at Penn State Beaver.

She said she isn’t sure why people aren’t running but thinks part of the problem is that a typical student doesn’t see what SGA does.

Chris Rizzo, director of student affairs, agreed.

“It takes a community to put out the importance of these kinds of positions,” Rizzo said.

Rizzo and Gartley said most students just see the projects SGA PSU-Beaver ROAR:Layout 1

works on, like the blood drives and Beaverfest, but don’t actually realize all of the work and responsibilities that members of SGA have.

In addition to allocating the student activity fee to groups and activities across campus, SGA sends two representatives to the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments and holds two seats on the Campus Diversity Committee. The vice president also goes to Faculty Congress meetings, while the president has a monthly meeting with the chancellor.

Once elected, the president of SGA holds the power to appoint students to the vice president and secretary positions.

The role of treasurer is an elected position, and Steve Dusicsko,freshamn and current treasurer has already been selected for the 2010-2011 school year.

Rizzo had a proposal on the table for a stipend that would have given the president $500 per semester and the board members $250.

When no one opted to run, he

1/19/2010

4:15 PM

withdrew the proposal, and it is uncertian if the proposal will be resubmitted.

“I knew SGA was in good hands, so I wasn’t afraid to step down,” she said.

SGA Treasurer Steve Dusicsko said the challenge of getting people to join SGA is getting them interested.

The hope from SGA advisers and members is that the incoming freshmen will show interest in joining.

“You’ve got to plant the seed when they first come in,” Dusicsko said.

Three other names will also appear on the ballot along with Karunanidhi. Michelle Beckman, Terri-Lee Taylor, and Raydale Thomas, all current freshman and SGA representatives will once again run for the same position.

The ballots will be available in the Bistro from 11 a.m. to 1 pm.m and write in votes are allowed.

Anyone interested in joining SGA should contact Chris Rizzo at clr4@psu.edu.

Page 1

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PAGE 8

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

News

Undergrads show off research at fair Justin Alexander STAFF WRITER jda178@psu.edu

Is Dr. Seuss making us fat?

What are the benefits of napping?

Why are the simplest truths hardest to grasp?

These were some of the questions examined at Penn State Beaver’s ninth-annual Undergraduate Research Fair April 7.

Students presented research projects from a variety of fields, including biology, chemistry and the social sciences.

Students participated in two types of presentations: oral and poster.

Sophomore Rachel Shegog won top honors in oral presentations, while junior David McGarry, sophomore Amanda Kirk and freshman Olivia Mulvihill won for their combined work in the poster category.

In all, seven students gave oral presentation to an audience of instructors, students and judges, while nine students presented posters in the Student Union Building auditorium hallway, where they explained their projects to the judging committee and answered any questions.

First-place winners for both types of presentations earned $150 and second place received $100.

Shegog’s winning oral presentations was “The Preparation of a Model Compound for an Iron Phenyl POSS Ionomer.”

Her presentation focused on the preparation of a model compound for a special kind of polymer.

Shegog said this is the second consecutive year she participated,

From left, Amanda Kirk, Olivia Mulvihill and David McGarry win first place in the Research Fair, April 7. and this year’s fair was the first time she placed.

“It’s an opportunity to talk about your research,” she said.

McGarry, Kirk and Mulvihill showed their research with a poster entitled “Is Dr. Seuss Making Us Fat?” Mulvihill said the fair is a good reason to “do research on things you’re curious about.”

“Obesity rates are out of control,” said McGarry, noting that the contents of children’s books are

not as closely monitored as they should be.

Junior Joel Rosenstern, part of the team that won second place in oral presentations, said participating in research is not necessarily hard. “If you know your subject, everything else falls into place.”

Rosenstern, along with Assistant Professor of Biology Cassandra Miller-Butterworth, created a research project related to White Nose Syndrome, an illness found in brown bats. The project looked

at this poorly understood disease associated with the deaths of over a million bats.

Juniors Jamie Valent and Misty Worst won second place for their poster entitled “Perceptions of People with Tattoos.”

Their faculty mentor for the project was Minhnoi WrobleBiglan, assistant professor of psychology.

“The fair is a good experience, and it looks good on a resume,” said sophomore Nicole DeFerrari.

THE ROAR/ZACHARY BENSCOTER

DeFerrari and junior Aimee Archer presented “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, is Disney Gender Fair or Not at All?” a look at gender portrayals in Disney movies.

“Students learn a lot when they go through the research process,” said JoAnn Chirico, senior instructor of sociology and one of the committee members of the 2010 Undergraduate Research Fair.

“How to create knowledge, not how to study, is the purpose education,” said Chirico.

Beaverfest returns to kick-off summertime Gary Miller STAFF WRITER gwm5061@psu.edu

Dodge ball, karaoke, a bonfire, a caricature artist and a live band are a few of the activities planned for the campus celebration Beaverfest 2010. The five-day event begins Monday, April 26.

Beaverfest is sponsored by the Student Government Association.

This week of events provides students with pockets of stress-free fun before final exams.

And the best part is everything is free!

“It’s a nice way to celebrate all the accomplishments of a busy year,” said senior Brittany Acklin.

“And it is also relaxing and joyful to hang out with friends.”

“The big blow-up slide and the free food gave me an adrenaline rush,” said junior Billy Stoughton of last year’s event.

Not everyone needs to participate in activities. “It is entertaining to watch,” said junior Shannon Stickles.

Monday will kick off the weeklong festival with a free lunch on the lawn at noon and live enter-

tainment provided by the band Screaming Orphans. There will also be a caricature artist on campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a popular attraction last year.

“I really enjoyed the caricature (artist). He needs to stay on campus longer because the line was always long so everyone could’t get drawn,” Acklin said.

Tuesday will involve a whippedcream pie-eating contest at noon on the concrete slab in the center of the campus. The movie “The Hangover” will be shown in the auditorium at 9:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, karaoke will be featured at lunchtime in the Bistro between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

That evening, a digital scavenger hunt will run from 8:30 to 11 p.m.

Thursday, Beaverfest provides games like blinko, ping pong and a gaming system in the Bistro from noon to 1 p.m.

The faculty/staff/student dodge ball game starts in the gym at 5 p.m.

“I don’t plan on participating.

However, the dodge ball game sounds like a lot of fun,” said sen-

ior A.J. Gall.

Stoughton said. “I am excited about the dodge ball game.”

Friday will feature the finale of Beaverfest 2010 with a volleyball game at 7 p.m. and hot dogs and smore’s at a bonfire behind Harmony Hall at 8 p.m.

“There are usually a lot of people at Beaverfest. Students bring family members, friends, boyfriends and girlfriends to the festivities,” Acklin said.

Stoughton said the free food is one of the best parts. “I know I will be hungry,” he said.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 9

Students ask chancellor for suites News

Trey Hudspeth STAFF WRITER twh149@psu.edu

Suite-style residence halls are one way to improve the campus, according to the Penn State Beaver students who attended the April 7 Cheesecake with the Chancellor.

Sophomore Abby LeGore said other colleges have added suitestyle housing and the students there enjoy living in them. It would be a great addition to this campus, she said.

Chancellor Gary Keefer said he liked the idea and was willing to explore the possibility, but couldn’t promise if or when any new residence halls would be built.

Keefer held the late-night meeting with students in the Harmony Hall lobby as a way to connect with students and get their feedback about the campus. Keefer said he was looking for ideas on how to improve Penn State Beaver.

Campus residence life officials said Penn State Beaver once had townhouse units that were similar to suites.

The two-story units had five bedrooms and a common living area, along with a bathroom on each floor, said Amy Gartley, associate director of student affairs.

The units, located on the ridge behind Harmony Hall, developed structural problems and were torn down 12 years after opening.

Keefer said that if suites are going to return to the campus, they will probably come in the form of an additional wing attached to Harmony Hall.

Keefer said he was in the process of submitting a proposal to request additional housing, but that any additional housing was “down the road a ways.”

Another change that students wanted was the addition of water

THE ROAR/MARIA BRUNO

Chancellor Gary Keefer plays Nintendo Wii in Harmony Hall April 7 before his meeting with students. He bowled three strikes. fountains in Harmony Hall.

“Sometimes it would be great to have water fountains during the night hours,” said senior Stephanie Shearer. “The Bistro is closed during the night.

The conversation sparked Jeremy Lindner, director of Housing

and Food Services, to talk about a program he saw at University Park.

University Park set up machines called hydration stations, he said.

These stations are water fountains that are made specifically to refill water bottles. Students simply place their bottles under the spe-

POLICE BEAT

Police find youths inhaling aerosol fumes Three Penn State Beaver students reported finding three youths inhaling aerosol fumes on the trail leading to Wal-Mart at 7:25 p.m. on April 21.

Officer Bryan Cattivera said he found juveniles, ages 12, 15 and 16, inhaling fumes of Clean Safe Dust Remover.

Of the four cans that Cattivera found, only one was full. None of the juveniles required medical attention, and Cattivera drove them home to their parents.

No charges were filed.

CAR VANDALIZED Someone keyed a resident student’s car sometime during the week of April 5.

Officer Bryan Cattivera said the car was keyed on the driver’s side door between 10 a.m. April 5 and 12:30 p.m. April 8. Police would not identify the student.

STUDENTS FOUND WITH ALCOHOL

Campus police discovered seven people in a Harmony Hall room with alcohol at 2:10 a.m. on April 20. Officer Patrick Smith said four of the people in the room were not residents, and the only person not drinking was the driver. Two resident students were referred to Student Affairs.

No charges have been filed.

cially designed fountain and it automatically squirts water in.

Most importantly, these hydration stations don’t charge students for water.

While the idea of hydration stations is attractive, Lindner pointed out that Penn State has a contract

with Pepsi which donates $20 million each year to the university to fund scholarships at all Penn State campuses.

And since Aquafina water is Pepsi’s best-selling product, Lindner said he can’t see Beaver campus purchasing the hydration stations just yet.

Lindner said the hydration stations are part of a program University Park is examining because they received an exception from Pepsi in order to test the program.

Students also talked with Keefer about ways to recruit more students.

“It’s so competitive trying to recruit students,” Keefer said.

“Some high schools only bring students once a year.”

Keefer said billboards, commercials and other forms of traditional advertising don’t seem to work.

Students suggested having current Penn State Beaver students talk to prospective students from their former high schools as a way to recruit.

“If you have connections with old high school teachers, maybe students could talk about Penn State Beaver,” Keefer said.

Dan Pinchot, director of enrollment, said the idea has been tried in the past, but perhaps it’s time to revive it.

“The challenge would be in the logistics of getting students back to their high schools,” Pinchot said.

Despite the challenge, Pinchot said he believes this is a great idea.

“High school students are more likely to listen to and believe what college students have to say, as opposed to believing as gospel what an admissions person says.”

“In order for this to be successful, we would need enthusiastic students that each have a story to tell,” Pinchot added.

Caps and gowns go green From Staff Reports

Graduation caps and gowns are the newest thing to go green at Penn State.

While they will still be their traditional Penn State navy blue, the caps and gowns this year will be made from a wood-based fabric that can decompose in soil in one year.

The zippers are also made from recycled materials.

According to a Penn State press release, the university

changed the cap and gownmaterial because more and more students simply throw away their caps and gowns after graduation rather than holding onto them as keepsakes like many graduates have in the past.

The caps and gowns will be sold by Jostens and will make their Penn State debut at graduation ceremonies in May at all Penn State locations.

They can be ordered at the Penn State Bookstore.

PAGE 10

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Editorial

So many clubs, so little time CLUB CONGESTION CALLS FOR COOPERATION

STAFF

Managing Editor Dana Sklack des5141@psu.edu

Online Editor Claire Kraynak cmk346@psu.edu

Art Editor Justin Vorbach jav5121@psu.edu

Assignment Editor Justin Ommert jco5046@psu.edu

Assistant Managing Editor Sami Hulings smh5218@psu.edu

Assistant Assignment Editor

Nearly three years ago, common hour was introduced to allow students a break in their day three days a week to eat lunch with friends, catch up on a bit of work and maybe go to a meeting from time to time.

Fast forward to the present when students are either involved in what seems like everything or nothing at all, and common hour is no longer as convenient as it once was.

With 15 clubs and only three hours of common time available per week, there is bound to be conflict. And as is typical with most small campuses, there are students who choose to get involved in more than one activity – for some, a lot more – which just adds to the conflict.

But there are things that can be done to alleviate the congestion.

Clubs on campus need to start working together to arrange meeting times that will allow more students to attend without having to choose between two or three meetings.

If the clubs started communicating to each other about their set meeting times, some of the club congestion could be adverted.

Another option is that clubs could consider meeting at a time other than common hour. There are typically no classes scheduled between 5 and 6 p.m., and there’s nothing preventing a club from hosting a meeting over the dinner hour instead of the lunch hour.

However, all the creative sched-

uling in the world will still not make it possible for one student to be involved in every single club.

Nor should they be.

Students can save themselves – and club leaders – some of the headaches by, dare it be said, not joining everything.

By no means should students be discouraged from getting involved, but often it’s the same small group of students who are involved in everything.

It’s great to be involved, but it’s not great to stretch yourself thin with so many club meetings that, since the first day of classes, you haven’t seen a common hour lunch that included eating in the Bistro and not dashing from the Bistro.

Matt Jones msj145@psu.edu

Page Designers Zachary Benscoter zhb5006@psu.edu

Felecia Brown frb113@psu.edu

Maria Bruno mtb5120@psu.edu

Amy Green aig5089@psu.edu

Rachael Hartman rdh5099@psu.edu

Bridget McCullough blm5274@psu.edu

Senior Staff Writers

Wanted: Student government leaders Growing up, everyone is encouraged to be a leader, not a follower.

Leaders don’t shirk responsibility, don’t shy away from solving problems and are willing to take a stand on tough issues.

Apparently, Penn State Beaver has a lack of leaders.

Only one student stepped forward to run for Student Government Association president, and that only after elections were cancelled.

While being SGA president may not be right for everyone, it baffles the mind that out of about 850 students, only one student is willing to step up and be the voice of the students.

You hear students all the time complaining about things on campus, whether it’s the food in the Bistro or the lack of stuff to do on campus. (Neither of which are v coalidmplaints, by the way.)

SGA is your opportunity to quit complaining and to start doing something about it.

Are you interested in how your tuition dollars are spent? You can have a voice.

How about the fees that students pay, such as Student Activities and the Facilities Fee? Did you even know that’s something SGA handles?

It’s time to replace apathy with activism, to step forward and become a leader. The student body depends on it.

Mike Mendicino mjm746@psu.edu

Noelle Miloszewski mjm746@psu.edu

Business Manager Brian Ringel bmr5120@psu.edu

Advisers Terrie Baumgardner tbm2@psu.edu

Cathy Benscoter cub15@psu.edu

Daniel Pinchot djp114@psu.edu

Who says the grass is greener on the other side?

It’s all too easy to take your surroundings for granted. Especially, here on campus.

But look around. The maintenance staff has really outdone itself this year. This campus is beautiful.

Day after day, it’s the same old routine: wake up, maybe shower, throw on some clothes and either shuffle to class from Harmony Hall or commute from home.

For those who live on campus, the grounds of Penn State Beaver are all too familiar.

And for those who commute, the trek to campus often involves only a short 10- or 15-minute drive, and it is not exactly an extraordinary experience.

However, it’s important to note that winter has left us and our once desolate, brown landscape has burst into color.

We went to sleep one night and when we awoke it was suddenly spring.

And it’s breathtaking.

Ample sunshine covers everything in sight (which is lucky considering this side of Pennsylvania only sees about 59 clear days per year).

Cherry, dogwood, redbud and crabapple are blooming in full force. Everything’s green.

So take a break from your everyday routine to stop and smell the roses!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Roar is published several times each semester. Letters to the Editor are encouraged and can be emailed to: roar-editor @psu.edu by the 15th day of each month. Please include your full name, address, email address and cell phone number.

FREE ADS FOR CLUBS

Because The Roar recieves funding from the Student Activity Fee, free advertising space is offered to any university-recognized organization or club to promote upcoming events.

The space is limited to one advertisment, one-eighth of a page in size, per organization or club per month. To reserve space, email The Roar business manager at: roar-business @psu.edu by the 15th of each month.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 11

Features

Student juggles classes at four campuses Michael Mendicino SENIOR STAFF WRITER mjm746@psu.edu

For most Penn State Beaver students, taking a full schedule of classes at one campus is hard enough.

Ever stop to think what it’s like to be taking classes at four campuses at the same time?

Senior Justin Alexander does.

In all, Alexander is taking seven classes between four campuses. He’s working towards two baccalaureate degrees, one in Corporate Communications and the other in Information Sciences and Technology.

The campuses are spread out across Pennsylvania. In addition to Penn State Beaver, Alexander has classes scheduled at Greater Allegheny, which is east of Pittsburgh; Abington, which is north of Philadelphia; and the online World Campus.

“I decided to do this so I wouldn’t have to do another full-time semester. I wanted to pursue a degree in IST about two years ago and I’ve been taking the required classes in addition to my communication classes,” Alexander said.

“I really want to graduate soon, so I looked at what I needed for both degrees. I had trouble finding what I needed at just Penn State Beaver, so I

looked at other campuses.”

Alexander doesn’t have as much traveling to do as one might think.

His classes through World Campus are all online.

He’s able to do those assignments on his computer. He communicates with his Greater Allegheny class using an Interactive Video Teleconferencing set up at Penn State Beaver.

He’s only required to be at Penn State Abington four times the entire semester and uses Google Wave and Gmail to keep in touch with the class in the interim.

“My Abington class is IST 440W, which is offered at Penn State Beaver at only one time. I couldn’t take it here because it conflicted with COMM 260W.” In addition to COMM 260W, Alexander takes painting, IST 240 COMM 494 and is a Roar staffer at Beaver. He’s enrolled in IST 420 at Greater Allegheny and a kinesiology class through World Campus.

The course that presents the most difficulty for Alexander is IST 440W at Abington.

“I missed one of the meetings out there because I got stuck in traffic and then got lost around Philly. The meeting was at 9:30 a.m., so I left home around 2 a.m. and drove there

with a friend. When I finally got there, the meeting was basically over. Everyone knew I left so early and was pretty cool about it, mostly because I made the effort, I think.”

Alexander said his professors here at Penn State Beaver are understanding as well.

John Chapin, associate professor of communication, teaches COMM 494. He said he’s aware of Alexander’s situation and is understanding of it, to a certain extent.

“If Justin shows up late or misses a class in which there’s a scheduled exam or he’s supposed to give a presentation, I hold him to the same standard as any other student.

I cut him a break, though, if it happens during a regular class period,” Chapin said.

Despite the wild schedule Alexander has, he said it hasn’t really affected his grades very much.

He’s cut back his hours as a bartender at a local restaurant in order to focus most of his time on school.

In the midst of this unconventional schedule, Alexander feels as though the experience has been a positive one.

“My crazy schedule has really helped me learn to multitask. Overall it’s been a good learning experience for me,” Alexander said.

THE ROAR/JUSTIN VORBACH

Senior Justin Alexander has become an expert multitasker.

Things get squirrelly when Computer Store visits the Beave Matt Jones

ASSISTANT ASSIGNMENT EDITOR

msj145@psu.edu It stands four feet tall. Its penetrating gaze freezes even the bravest of souls in their tracks. Its very presence causes commotion and confusion.

No, Godzilla didn’t get hit by a shrink-ray. The four-foot tall source of confusion is actually the Penn State Computer Store Squirrel.

The Computer Store sent two representatives to Penn State Beaver on April 19 in celebration of its twentieth birthday.

As part of the celebration, they brought along their mascot, which just happens to be a four-foot tallsquirrel that dons a party hat when the store gives away prizes.

But why a squirrel as the mascot for a computer store?

Purchasing Manager Paige Fyock said they chose the squirrel because University Park is loaded with them, and they can be

THE ROAR/JUSTIN VORBACH

Olivia Mulvihill and Kylee Weaver strike a pose with the Computer Store’s squirrel during its visit to campus April 19.

extremely quirky.

“They love grilled stickies,” she said chuckling.

The squirrel has been the store’s mascot for about a year but only recently began to gain attention with the store’s twentieth birthday campaign.

The squirrel has become so popular it even has its own Facebook page (search for “This Squirrel” on Facebook) separate from the Computer Store’s.

But in spite of the advertising and its popularity, the squirrel still caught some people off guard. .

Freshman Steve Dusicsko was one of them.

“I had absolutely no idea what was going on,” he said as he looked on.

“There was a freakin’ squirrel in the Bistro!” said junior Lucas Morack, who knew the squirrel was coming to campus but was still surprised when he saw it.

That didn’t stop Morack from cozying up to the squirrel to get

couple of free items and have his picture taken with the black-andwhite cardboard rodent.

Penn State Beaver was the third stop this year for the Computer Store, with prior stops at Altoona and DuBois campuses.

Sue Gavazzi, the Web site license manager, was taking pictures of people posing with the mascot.

“This has been the most exciting campus so far,” Gavazzi said, noting that people knew they were coming and were lining up even before the scheduled commonhour event began.

The Computer Store sells hardware, software and other computer peripherals at a significant discount to all Penn State students, faculty and staff.

The store also give away monthly prizes to anyone who enters on its Web site, and it features a different manufacturer every month.

To learn more, visit computerstore.psu.edu/celebration.

IN THE NEWS

PAGE 12

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 13

Spotlight

In a clear case of life imitating art, Roar Art Editor J.T. Vorbach nearly loses his pants while taking a photo of the lion for the saggy pants cover of the March 2010 Roar.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE ROAR

THE ROAR CATHY BENSCOTER

BY MATT JONES AND JUSTIN OMMERT APRIL 22

It’s noon as students begin to trickle in to room 11 in the Michael Baker Building.

The hot, stuffy room is lined with computers that await page designers to begin what will prove to be a long, trying day. The incessant clicking of keys and mouse clicks creates a cacophony that fills the room. The sound of chalk scraping against the blackboard adds to the noise as designers draw diagrams of the paper’s layout.

Smells of donuts, muffins and cookies fill the room. But no one is interested in breakfast at noon.

“Where’s the pizza?” nearly every person asks as they come into the room.

“It’s coming at one,” replies Roar Adviser Cathy Benscoter without looking up from her laptop.

There can be no doubt: Production of The Roar is under way.

Production day is the pivotal point in the process of creating The Roar. Much work has been done by writers, photographers and editors in the weeks leading up to this day to get the newspaper’s content ready.

Now it’s time to put it all together.

The day starts around 9 a.m. when Benscoter and Managing Editor Dana Sklack, junior, begin the process of deciding which stories go on which pages. At the same time, Art Editor Justin Vorbach, junior, starts preparing photographs and graphics.

Things stay fairly quiet until 1 p.m. Then everything changes.

Six pizzas and two orders of breadsticks arrive. The delivery man, who has been here before, carries them past the page editors and puts them down with little fanfare.

Lunch, and what will later become a cold dinner, is served.

Amid the feeding frenzy, Roar Adviser Daniel Pinchot comes in.

“To fully understand what it’s like in here, you’d have to record it.”

Terrie Baumgardner

One of three Roar advisers Pinchot, who supervises the reporters, has spent most of the night before and much of the morning editing the stories turned in by the reporters, most of whom are enrolled in one of Penn State Beaver’s news writing classes.

Within seconds of his arrival, shouts of, “Mr. Pinchot,” “Hey, Mr. P.!” and “Dan, what’s up with this story?” fill the room.

Roar Adviser Terrie Baumgardner takes a few minutes to consult with Pinchot on questions she had on a few stories.

Junior Matt Jones, assistant assignment editor, makes a quick appearance to tell the staff that two of his articles aren’t quite done. A last-minute interview will be done within the hour and a couple of facts needed to be verified for the police briefs.

The page designers get down to the business of deciding how each page will look, writing headlines and making their stories fit on the pages.

Amid shouts to Benscoter for help, the banter begins.

Quips and slams fly back and forth across the room. Nothing is sacred, and no one is spared.

“To fully understand what it’s like in here, you’d have to record it,” Baumgardner says.

“We have to make fun of each other just to get through pro day,” says sophomore Sami Hulings, assistant managing editor.

Hulings spends most of the day designing pages. Sitting next to her, Claire Kraynak is oblivious to the

THE ROAR/ ZACHARY BENSCOTER

Sami Hulings, left, Rachael Hartman, Claire Kraynak and Dana Sklack, right, slip into maddness as the last hour of production day comes to a close.

THE ROAR/ ZACHARY BENSCOTER

Above, Matt Jones looks shell-shocked around 11 p.m. April 22.

Behind him proofs of finished pages hang on the blackboard.

Right, Bridget McCullough eats a salad while working on a newspaper page on the computer. The Roar uses the desktop publishing programQuarkXPress.

THE ROAR/ZACHARY BENSCOTER

The staff takes time out during the March production day to celebrate Managing Editor Dana Sklack’s 21st birthday. chaos around her as she listens to her mp3 player. Kraynak, a junior, is the online editor of The Roar and goes back and forth between designing pages and proofreading them.

As the day progresses, junior Seth Edwards and senior Jennifer Hain come into the production room to help identify people in photos from the recent trip to Washington, D.C.

“Food is one of the tools we use to get sources to come in,” Benscoter says.

She’s joking, but then again, maybe she’s not. Everyone who stops by is offered a cookie or a donut.

MBB11 becomes a popular place.

“A newspaper travels on its stomach,” says Benscoter. “Journalists don’t work without pizza. It’s a rule.”

As pages are finished, print-outs get taped to the blackboard over their hand-drawn outlines. Proofreaders like Jones and Assignment Editor Justin Ommert, sophomore, press their faces close to read the small print and make needed corrections.

Around 4 p.m. minor problems start looking like bigger ones. One of the stories is missing and has been missing all day. It’s not where it’s supposed to be on Angel, and no one’s sure if it was even submitted.

See News, Page 14

PAGE 14

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Day into night and back again Spotlight NEWS, FROM PAGE 14

Fortunately, Pinchot had the story on his jump-drive the entire time, but most had ignored him when he announced it to the room three-hours ago. Threat averted.

That cleared up, the insultslinging starts back up.

“Everything is fair game,” Benscoter says. “That’s how a real newsroom is. There’s no sanctity or decorum in a real newsroom because journalists are dealing with hard subjects all the time. A crassness develops. It’s a coping mechanism.”

She should know. Before coming to Penn State Beaver as marketing and web specialist for Admissions, Benscoter worked for 14 years as a designer and copy editor at the Beaver County Times. Before that she worked at a paper in Illinois.

“We’re not as crass here,” Benscoter says. “But it does get a bit vulgar.”

“And I don’t think we care,” Sklack adds.

Pinchot, who previously worked as a reporter for the Beaver County Times, puts Roar production into perspective. “You really work together here like you do in a newsroom. You also have that adrenaline rush that’s typical in a newsroom,” he says.

“I think the thing that I like best about our production day experience is that you do get an adrenaline rush,” he says. “The only thing that would make it more realistic is if we had a hard and fast deadline that the paper needed to get done by. Of course, I don’t want to do that. As long as it’s done before we leave tonight, we’re happy.”

Happy is not going to happen this night.

Around 8:30 p.m. page designer Maria Bruno, sophomore, becomes ill and leaves. Ommert, who is busy crafting an article on a day in the life of The Roar, is summoned half an hour later to take her to the hospital.

While the staff deals with its worry for Bruno and designer Felicia Brown, freshman, steps in to finish her pages, the biggest crisis of the night looms: What about Ommert’s story? What about the three pages that are waiting for it?

Jones is quickly tapped to gather additional quotes for Ommert.

He’ll also write the story from Ommert’s notes if necessary.

Normally, the edition would be finished by midnight and emailed

THE ROAR/CATHY BENSCOTER

Roar advisers Dan Pinchot and Terrie Baumgardner make final changes to pages in the AprilMay edition of the Roar.

THE ROAR/ZACHARY BENSCOTER

Above, The Roar staff plan for the April-May edition. Right, how many pizzas does it take to make a newspaper? A lot. to the printer the next day. A decision is made to hold the paper through the weekend to give time to finish the story and the pages it’s on.

With 11 p.m. fast approaching and many of the page designers finished and gone, physical and mental exhaustion begin to set in among those left in the room.

Exhaustion comes out in the form of lunacy.

Having finished her pages, Kraynak winds up on the floor upside-down, laughing hysterically. Hulings and copy editor Rachael Hartman, sophomore, who have both been in the room most of the day, join in.

“I’m dead!” shouts Kraynak.

Sklack also gives in to hysteria and slumps over a stool.

Seizing the opportunity, pho-

tographer/page designer Zach Benscoter, a freshman who is Cathy Benscoter’s son, climbs on a table to get an aerial shot of the insanity, nearly losing his balance in the process.

Jones, still taking notes for The Roar story, throws his notebook across the room and shouts, “I’m done!”

If only that were true.

APRIL 23

Staff members spend April 23 writing and reworking stories as word comes in that Ommert is stranded in Pittsburgh and Bruno is recovering at home from food poisoning.

Jones tackles Ommert’s Roar notes, and Sklack turns her attention to updating a story and editorial about the Student Govern-

THE ROAR/CATHY BENSCOTER

ment Association as word comes that an election has finally been scheduled as SGA candidates have stepped forward.

As 11 p.m. approaches on what has become the second night of production, Sklack and Jones are still working on The Roar story, this time via e-mail.

“After a 14 hour day Thursday and working another 12 hours Friday, I sit here working on the longest article I’ve ever written, knowing there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing,” says Jones.

APRIL 24

Zach Benscoter receives an edited version of Jones’s story. He’s finally able to finish his work on the last three Roars pages.

Two days past deadline, The Roar is finally done.

ROAR TIMELINE

Thursday, March 25 Roar Adviser Daniel Pinchot leads a brainstorming session in his Comm 001 and Comm 260W classes for the AprilMay edition of The Roar. Students bring up story ideas, and most walk away with an assignment.

Sunday, March 28 Story outlines and photo assignments are due by midnight.

Wednesday, April 7 An editors meeting is held during common hour to discuss the progress of stories and art.

Thursday, April 8 Rough drafts are due and are read by. Sometimes students have special deadlines, whether their stories require being written after a due date or they just didn’t get them done. Those students e-mail their stories to Pinchot and get less feedback.

Wednesday, April 14 An art meeting is held to discuss the progress of the photos and possible ideas for the cover, center spread and back pages of the paper.

Thursday, April 15 Final drafts are due. Pinchot scrutinizes them in both classes. It is rare that a story will need to be written after the final draft deadline, but in the event that it happens, it has to be e-mailed to Pinchot and deposited in the appropriate drop boxes on Angel, usually

by Saturday at midnight.

Friday, April 16 Advertising deadline. The final list of ads is submitted to the managing editor.

Monday, April 19 Another meeting is held to discuss art and stories. During the meeting, a camera crew from University Park comes and takes footage for a campus promotional video.

Wednesday, April 21 The final budget meeting is held to discuss which stories and photos are ready for publication and which ones may not be published.

Thursday, April 22 Production day begins at 9 a.m.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 15

Features

Protect your GPA or face the consequences Noelle Miloszewski SENIOR STAFF WRITER nnm113@psu.edu

Last year senior Sam Neely sat and watched as her teammates won the Penn State University Athletic Conference softball championship.

After her grades fell to a 1.96 the previous semester, Neely was deemed ineligible by PSUAC by-laws. “I was disappointed I missed playing that season and winning the championship, which really sucked,” Neely said.

For student-athletes, dropping below a 2.0 can mean an end to an entire season. Junior Jessica Bartges, a basketball player who transferred from Penn State Greater Allegheny, was ineligible the beginning of her sophomore year when her grades fell below the 2.0 requirement.

However, it is not just student-athletes who need to be concerned with their grade-point averages. Advising Program Coordinator Gretchen Samchuck said anyone who drops below a 2.0 is considered academically at risk.

“If a student’s grades continue to

worsen, they could eventually be kicked out of the university,” Samchuck said.

But the university is forgiving. “It takes more than one bad semester for a student to get kicked out.”

The system the university uses is based on deficiency points, which a student acquires when receiving a D or an F in a course. Once a student begins struggling semester to semester, the university examines the number of deficiency points in comparison to the number of credits the student has taken, then makes a decision.

The university may be forgiving, but federal and state financial aid guidelines are not.

Even if students are not kicked out of Penn State, they are at risk of losing some or all of their financial aid if they fail a class. “I had to pay more out of pocket that semester,” Bartges said.

According to Financial Aid Coordinator Gail Gray, students should put an equal weight on both the minimum 2.0 GPA and the number of credits they are taking.

Gray said students who receive

money from the federal and state governments will lose part of their grant money if they drop below 12 credits in a semester.

Gray also said the university is now pushing all professors to take attendance. Students who do not show up for class on a regular basis may have their grants, loans and scholarships taken away, resulting in the student owing a significant amount of money at the end of the semester.

Samchuck, Neely and Bartges agreed that if students are struggling, they should talk to their professors before anything else. Often students think they are worse off than they really are.

After missing last season, Neely brought her grades up, was able to play softball this season and is scheduled to graduate with a business degree in May. Since her ineligibility, Bartges has made the Dean’s List the last two semesters. Her advice? “Communicate with your teachers and try to seek help.

Make an honest effort, and don’t give up on a grade,” Bartges said.

ROAR PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

PAGE 16

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Features

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/ AMANDA MOORE

Summer in the sun? Not for these students Olivia Skonieczny STAFF WRITER ols5006@psu.edu

While countless students will soon be returning home to work at summer jobs or take summer classes, some students have much more interesting plans that will take them far from Penn State Beaver.

Freshman Katie Sittig, a biology/neuroscience major, will fly to Brighton, England this summer to study general chemistry.

“Studying abroad is an idea I’ve always heard of but never dreamed of,” Sittig said.

Sittig received an e-mail about Penn State’s Education Abroad program at the beginning of the semester and responded to it with little expectation of acceptance.

Sittig said she is constantly looking for opportunities to expand her experiences in the medical field. Studying abroad was some-

“Studying abroad is an idea I’ve always heard of but never dreamed of.”

Katie Sittig

Senior

thing she decided to take advantage of to make herself more desirable on a medical school application.

Sittig said her endeavor to study abroad was a challenge because of the expense.

But, she said, “The question isn’t whether or not you are willing to pay $5,000 for four credits. The more pressing question is: How much are you willing to pay to ensure that your resume goes from

the middle of a pile to the top of that pile?”

Senior Dave McGarry will have a temporary stay in Las Vegas this summer while working outdoors for Rebel Rentals.

“I will put up 200-foot tents that take a day or two to build.”

During his scorching work days in the sun, McGarry gets to work on his “Spanglish” in the hopes of becoming bilingual.

“The rest of the guys aren’t legal.

The only reason I got the job is because I’m legal,” McGarry said.

“If we get pulled over, they have to hide in the back of the truck,” he said.

McGarry had a summer job in Las Vegas for the past two years, and despite Vegas’ glitz-and-glamour reputation, he said the stay is not a luxury.

“Working full time while living in Las Vegas for my job is like

working and living in Beaver County. I’m going there to work,” he said.

While some students are hard at work during their summer, others are trying to advance to a better place in their current jobs.

Sophomore CJ Bowers is a server at the local Cracker Barrel in Robinson who spends his summers preparing for a management position in the company.

Bowers said he receives a 20 percent raise if he keeps returning to Tennessee every summer to train for an assistant manager position.

Employees at Cracker Barrel have to take a test in order to better understand the company and to know their surrounding restaurants.

The high score that Bowers received on the test helped him advance to assistant management in the original Cracker Barrel in

Lebanon, Tenn.

“I just keep going back for the money,” Bowers said.

While some students are heading out of state for work, others are getting away to relax.

Freshman Nick Miller will be heading to New York to visit former Penn State Beaver student Steven Lopez.

While in New York, Miller plans to play street basketball at the well-known mecca of street basketball, Rucker Park.

Rucker Park is known for having NBA basketball players such as Michael Jordan, Carmello Anthony, Alan Iverson and David Robinson dribble and shoot hoops.

“Ever since I was a little kid, it’s been a childhood dream of mine to play at Rucker Park like all the greats have done before,” Miller said.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 17

Features

Students struggle to take summer courses Joe Omogrosso STAFF WRITER jno5035@psu.edu

If you plan on playing catch up with classes this summer, beware.

You may have a hard time finding the class you need, and you may have an even harder time paying for it.

Students generally take summer classes for two reasons. Either they’re in desperate need of a class they may have dropped or not scheduled, or they want to get ahead of the game.

The biggest issues students run into are the availability of classes and the capability of financing them.

An in-state Penn State credit costs $463 this summer, bringing a typical three-credit class to $1,389 plus fees. Out-of-state tuition will run $728 a credit.

Director of Enrollment Dan Pinchot said the cost of taking a summer class can be prohibitive for some students, especially those who rely on financial aid to pay a good chunk of the bill during the normal fall and spring semesters.

“Many, many students find it difficult financially to afford sum-

“I know it sounds superficial, but if you want something nice you have to pay for it,” she said. “If you want a nice purse, you don’t go to Wal-Mart.

Claryssa Borroughs

Sophomore

mer classes because of the way the financial aid system is set up,” Pinchot said. “Students typically have no (financial aid) eligibility (in the summer).”

Pinchot said there may be some good news on the horizon.

The federal government recently changed the Pell grant program to allow students to continue to receive Pell grants in the summer if enrolled at least half-time.

But Pinchot said the change will affect relatively few students.

Because Pell is reserved for the students with the highest financial

need, only about a quarter of Beaver campus students receive a Pell grant.

Pinchot said students wanting to take a summer class are left with few financial options. Most have to turn to a parent PLUS a loan or private alternative loan to borrow the tuition money.

As a result of the high cost, Pinchot admitted that many students turn to local community colleges to save money.

Sophomore Claryssa Borroughs, Student Government Association president, said the cost of a Penn State class is worth it.

“I know it sounds superficial, but if you want something nice you have to pay for it,” she said.

“If you want a nice purse, you don’t go to Wal-Mart.”

However, freshman Lauren Sipe said summer classes at Penn State aren’t set at a fair price.

“Classes are too expensive,” she said. “You can get the same education at a community college for cheaper.”

Sipe is right that community colleges are cheaper. Most charge less than $100 a credit.

Locally, the Community Col-

New journal of the arts hits campus Craig Oskin STAFF WRITER cjo5055@psu.edu

A handful of students, with the support of a faculty member, has recently developed a new platform for creative expression: a literary and artistic magazine called “Panorama, Penn State Beaver’s Journal of the Arts.”

Panorama, which came out last week, is a collection of works that showcase the creativity of students, staff and faculty.

The free magazine can be found in the library, Ross Administration Building, Student Activities Suite and other areas on campus.

Submitted short stories, poems and artwork were reviewed by the magazine’s staff and selected for publication.

Panorama was started this semester by sophomore Rachael Hartman with help from sophomores Samantha Hulings, Taylor Jaros and Associate Professor of Theater Arts Carol Schafer. Both Hartman and Hulings are Roar editors.

“There is a lot of good work out there, but there are very few out-

lets on campus for them,” Schafer said.

Schafer said the biggest obstacles to overcome were lack of funding and student interest. “The Honors Club and Academic Affairs helped a lot,” she said.

Schafer said students can be hesitant to submit their work out of fear of other people seeing and comenting on it.

“All artists are their own worst

critics,” Schafer said.

“We’ve had roughly about 25 to 30 submissions for this edition,” Jaros said.

Each student was allowed to submit two works in each of three categories: short fiction, poetry and artwork.

“We don’t want it to become a huge outlet for just one person’s work,” Schafer said.

The submission deadline was April 9.

Despite the little time they had to create the first edition, the team of students and faculty has been working hard to make this issue spectacular. “It comes out once a year during the spring. This edition was rushed, but next time, hopefully, people will have more time to submit things and maybe we’ll have better advertising to make it a huge success,” Jaros said.

Schafer has begun recruiting future Panorama staffers.

“Our hopes are for others to join, so that we continue Panorama,” Shafer said.

Those interested in working on Panorama next fall should email Schafer at cas33@psu.edu.

lege of Beaver County charges $89.50 a credit for residents of Beaver County.

But Pinchot warned that the classes aren’t always the same, and students who aren’t careful can take a class that won’t transfer or that won’t fulfill a degree requirement.

“I’d like to see more students take summer courses here where we know that the quality of the courses meets Penn State’s high standard,” Pinchot said.

“But I understand that sometimes the only affordable option for students is the community college.”

Freshman Jack Grogkowski said Penn State Beaver doesn’t offer nearly enough options in the summer.

“They don’t even come close to offering enough,” he said. “Look at what you get here, and look at what you get at Main (University Park). There’s a huge gap.”

About 250 students enroll in summer courses, Pinchot said, and the overwhelming majority are taking only one or two classes.

In the typical fall or spring semester, where 850 students are

enrolled with most full-time, it’s just not possible to offer all the same classes. Pinchot said the campus tries to identify those courses that are most needed or most popular.

Sophomore CJ Bowers said summer classes at Penn State Beaver are just too condensed.

Some classes run in three-week or five-week sessions.

“I took accounting and physics here last summer and I’ll never do it again,” he said. “It was four days a week for four hours a day.”

Sophomore Abby Pfeiffer is a finance major who was recently accepted conditionally into the Smeal College of Business Administration. She has no choice but to take classes in the summer to meet the requirements.

“I’m going to take accounting, Spanish and Intro to Jazz,” she said. “I’m going to pay out of pocket as much as I can.”

Sophomore Narinder Gill said he needs to take summer classes to play soccer.

“I’m taking summer classes to boost my GPA so I can play soccer in the fall – probably painting and some type of math class,” he said.

INTERESTED IN PLAYING WOMEN’S SOCCER? CONTACT: ANDY KIRSCHNER ACK121@PSU.EDU

PAGE 18

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Features

Moundsville terrifies students

THE ROAR/SAMI HULINGS

Paranormal activity or a camera glitch? Decide for yourself in this photo of the gate that lets visitors in to see the general population cells of the potentially haunted Moundsville Penitentiary in Moundsville, W.Va.

Sami Hulings

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR smh5218@psu.edu

The temperature drops instantly, freezing your breath. Flashlights are the only source of light in the pitch-black darkness that surrounds the tiny group of brave souls in the secluded hallway.

A thin ray of light can be seen ahead - illumination from the spotlight located outside the window. In that light a shadow forms.

Screams fill the air and feet pound against the concrete floor, trying to elude the fear created by the infamous ghost “Shadow Man.” Welcome to Moundsville Penitentiary, population you — plus the paranormal activity down the hall. The now-defunct prison was the site of an overnight trip April 16 for a group of Penn State Beaver students sponsored by the THE ROAR/SAMI HULINGS Psychology Club.

This chair nicknamed “Old Sparky” was retired in 1959. Nine In its 96 years of operation, of the 94 inmates put to death at Moundsville were executed from 1899 to 1995, the prison has in this chair after the noose was outlawed. seen riots, murders and almost 100 executions that have helped wander the penitentiary in search definitely added to the scariness of create the eeriness surrounding the of paranormal activity on their the trip. The dilapidated buildings imposing Gothic structure of the own for the remainder of the helped to create a frightening main building. night. experience,” junior Adam Macino After an hour-long educational Many were shocked at how run- said. tour of Moundsville’s building and down the penitentiary actually was Macino was one of the 42 who grounds with a guide, the group since it was still in use in the late dared to venture to the “haunted” was given the chance to split into ‘90s. prison after hours, from midnight smaller groups. They could then “The condition of Moundsville to 6 a.m.

Alyssa Tabisz, sophomore, didn’t feel the fear factor during the walk of the prison with the tour guide.

“I wasn’t really that scared until we went off our own,” she said.

Tabisz, Macino and freshman Jacob Szemanski saw a picture taken by another group that showed the so-called Shadow Man lurking in the doorway to the psych ward of the prison. The group decided the ward would be the best place to try to entice some activity.

Little did they know the Shadow Man would make a guest appearance for them.

Standing in separate corners of the room, the three waited quietly, listening intently for noises of spirits.

Tabisz stood closest to the door where the Shadow Man had previously been sighted.

Within minutes, Szemanski said he saw the infamous shadow ghost in the doorway and told Tabisz it was moving closer to her.

Tabisz said she felt her hair move. At that point, she said she had had enough of the psych ward.

“I was so creeped out. The guys freaked me out. It scared me more when Jake told me that the Shadow Man was following me. I bolted then,” Tabisz said.

“The psych ward was insane,”

Macino added. “No other place creeped me out more. The appearance of the Shadow Man really creeped us all out.”

Kevin Bennett, instructor in psychology and the club advisor, wasn’t convinced of the haunting, though.

“I don’t think Moundsville is haunted in the sense that there are beings communicating from another dimension. There is no scientific evidence for ghostly activity,” Bennett said.

“However, I am interested in the psychology of fear and how our expectations influence our perceptions. Many people anticipate or expect to see ghosts and that has an impact on the way sensory information is processed. I am talking about sight, sound, smell, touch and taste,” he said.

Bennett said the prison tour guides do a great job of painting the picture of fear for people who tour.

“I liked the stories told by the tour guide. I don’t know if I believe them all, but I think she certainly set the tone for the rest of the night,” he said. “I was actually too scared to go down into the infamous boiler room, not because of any ghosts, but because she said that a bat flew in her mouth once!”

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 19

Features

The Frog Prince captivates young audiences Alicia Duemmel STAFF WRITER amd5345@psu.edu

At 10 a.m. on this typical Tuesday morning in April, Penn State Beaver’s auditorium has been transformed into a playroom where energetic children jump into their seats to see “The Frog Prince.”

“Kiss the Girl” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” plays through the overhead speakers as the children sing at the top of their lungs to the words they know.

Loud shouts and giggles soften as the lights dim to center stage.

The play begins and the little ones light up as the student actors from THEA 282 draw them into the play.

“Should I go run after Princess Chloe!?” asks the frog, played by freshman Matthew Turyan.

“YES!!” the children scream.

“Go get her!”

As the play ends, the cast hurries to the lobby where the students, who today come from New Horizon School, shove through to get autographs from their favorite characters.

The New Horizon students are just some of the hundreds to attend Penn State Beaver’s spring children’s play this year. Productions were staged on most Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout April.

“The Frog Prince” is a classic fairy tale about a spoiled princess who befriends a frog who magically turns into a handsome prince with a kiss.

“When the kids came up to us, some made fun of me because of my frog costume. I thought it was funny. It was a lot of work but I think it definitely showed,” Turyan said.

Poses were captured by parents and teachers, as little hands frantically waved goodbye.

Freshman Raffi Antilian, who played Prince Leo, explained that the play is something the kids will always remember.

“A little girl came up to me and asked me for my autograph. After I signed it, she ran over to all her friends and said, ‘Prince Leo touched all of this!’”

In the months leading up to the play, the THEA 282 class met two days a week for three hours to practice lines and prepare props on set. The production was written by Carol Schafer, associate professor of integrative arts, so that every student would have a part.

THE ROAR/JUSTIN VORBACH

Top: Scott Weaver and Amanda Hines act out the first scene of ‘The Frog Prince.’ Bottom: Sierra Chapin plays the princess who eventually kisses the frog, played by Matthew Turyan, turning him into a prince.

Schafer, who has directed the spring children’s plays since she came to Penn State Beaver, said she’s concerned that the annual tradition may be in jeopardy because fewer and fewer young audience members are attending the plays.

“At our peak about five or six years ago, we were bringing in 300 little ones (at each performance) and now we are a little over 100, but that is a considerable drop to where we were. I would like to encourage even our students to become involved and come to see the shows with everything we are bringing in,” Schafer said.

Schafer explained that the economy may have something to do with the dwindling numbers because schools are taking fewer field trips, apparently to save money. Schafer said she may replace the children’s play with an adult production next year.

Sophomore Sierra Chapin, who played Princess Chloe, said that even though the theater department isn’t huge, the show brings in those who want to be entertained.

“We practice twice a week and everything has fallen into place because everyone has been working on the props, costumes and lines. Working from the resources we have is quite a process, but we got through it,” Chapin said.

Chapin also said the children’s plays are good for Penn State Beaver’s image.

“Even though the children may not remember the campus, it still puts Penn State’s name in a good light by showing that we’re reaching out to the community at all ages.”

In addition to the work of the actors, the design and technical crew put forth enormous effort to make sure nothing went wrong.

Junior Ricky Davis, a technical crew member, helped with audio and sound effects. “It’s 95 degrees in the sound booth and (there’s) a lot of pressure because if you blow it, you blow it for everyone,” Davis said.

Despite the hard work, Davis said he enjoys putting on the shows for the children.

“I want the children to get entertainment out of this and maybe one day find their prince or princess,” he said. “This is an overall learning experience for me. I love working with children. It’s always fun to see them jump around and squirm in their seats during the play.”

Schafer said she teaches her students that it takes effort and confidence to perform in the theater.

“Theater is one of those things that you fall into and sort of keep doing. You become kind of addicted to it and more young people need to be introduced to the art world,” she said. “I like the creative expression and artistic work because, all in all, it’s a contrast to many other arts. It’s collaborative.”

PAGE 20

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Sports

MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Senior pitcher surpasses the norm Bond Stockdale STAFF WRITER jbs308@psu.edu

After the first six games of the 2010 baseball season, senior Greg Frederick had a 5-1 record with 88 strikeouts and only 47 innings pitched.

Averaging a constant 89-mileper-hour fastball and throwing accurate sliders that break close to the plate, Frederick made it clear that his baseball career started early and won’t be ending anytime soon.

Frederick, the starting senior pitcher for the baseball team, has been named The Roar’s Male Athlete of the Month for April.

“I can remember when I was 3 throwing the ball around with my dad in the backyard,” Frederick said. “My dad taught me everything I know about pitching.”

Growing up in the Sewickley area, the pitcher played for Quaker Valley during his high school career. Fredrick earned the WPIAL all-star most outstanding pitcher award his senior year.

He’s driving to bring home success to the Lions this year in both the Penn State University Athletic Conference and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.

“I think we have a really good shot at earning the second seed in the conference playoffs this year,” Frederick said. “We have a really strong offense, which makes pitch-

THE ROAR/JUSTIN VORACH

Greg Frederick pitches during a doubleheader April 11 against Greater Allegheny. Beaver lost both games, 6-2 and 8-6. ing a lot easier when we have points up on the board.

A lot of that is made possible by our strong left-handed batting, mainly, Marcus Allen, Cory Wagner and Ryan Raraigh.”

Senior Ryan Raraigh said Frederick has earned the confidence of his teammates. “When Greg is on the mound he provides a little extra confidence for the team.

He is leading the PSUAC and the USCAA in strikeouts by an astonishing number.

He shuts down the opponent and gives us a chance in the close ball games,” Raraigh said.

After suffering from a loss to Greater Allegheny, Frederick is looking for revenge in the playoffs.

But that will not be the last stop in Frederick’s baseball career.

“I know some teams are looking at me for the minor league, and I will try and enter the draft. If not, I will become a free agent,” Frederick said.

Coach Jack Hilfinger believes Frederick has the potential. “I have played with pitchers from Beaver and Lawrence that have had Major League Careers, and out of everyone that I have played with, I

would say that Greg is in the top three,” Hilfinger said.

“Greg can throw over-hand and side-arm fastballs, sliders, and change-ups. All of which are great,” he added.

“His slider breaks very close to the plate and his fastball moves very well. Most importantly, the batter can never tell what pitch Greg is throwing.”

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Watkins named one of team’s strongest hitters Shelby Parks STAFF WRITER smp345@psu.edu

Sophomore softball player Ashley Watkins hits the ball far and hard.

For her outstanding performance on the field, The Roar has named her the Female Athlete of the Month for April. Watkins is racking up the accolades.

She was recently named the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Softball Player of the Week and was named the Penn State Beaver Athlete of the Week for April 19. Watkins is batting .684 and she scored 12 runs while driving in eight in the last six games. Watkins transferred from Clarion University this year. “I was wasting my time at Clarion; I should have been playing softball,” she said.

Ashley Watkins Since her arrival at Penn State Beaver, she hasn’t wasted any time. Playing softball is something that Watkins is good at.

She’s been playing since she was 5 and her talent on the field is very noticeable. At Penn State Beaver, she’s been hard at work.

“Watkins is one of the best hitters we have,” Coach Andy Kirschner said. “She hits the ball really hard.” Everything didn’t come as naturally at the beginning of the season.

The team traveled to Florida for pre-season games, where they earned a 1-4 record.

Florida was a major learning process for her and the whole team.

“It was the first time on the field; we were usually in the gym most of the time. It was rough,” Watkins said.

“The best thing about Florida was that all of the players bonded,” Watkins said.

Since then, the team has gone 6-0 in conference play.Watkins plays outfield and catches. She gets a lot of help from the upperclassmen and her hard work is paying off.

“The competitive side of her comes out

every time she takes the field. She works hard in practice and it pays off,” sophomore teammate Katie Landis said.

Watkins credits the team’s success to everyone being able to hit. “Going through the lineup, no one is an easy out.”

“The best thing that has happened since Florida is that we weren’t really a team, but now we know where everyone is good at.

Everyone has their spot,” Watkins said.

Kirschner said she fits well on his team.

“Her teammates enjoy having her on the team. She brings a different dynamic and fits in really well with everyone,” he said.

Landis said Watkins has a sense of humor in addition to her softball skills.

“She brings entertainment to the field and she gets along with everybody. She is pretty funny.”

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 21

Sports

This space reserved for you THE ROAR/ZACHARY BENSCOTER

First hockey season ends

The Penn State Beaver Fightin’ Beaves lost their second round play-off game to Grove City College 4-1. The Fightin’ Beaves were the fourth seed going into the play-offs and received a bye in the first round. It was the firstever play-off game for the team.

2009-2010 ATHLETICS AWARDS MEN’S SOCCER

USCAA All-American Tyler Blake, honorable mention PSUAC All-Conference Tyler Blake Brandon Landry CJ Bowers

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

USCAA All-American Heather Sandusky, Honorble Mention PSUAC All-Conference Jen Hain Heather Sandusky Daina Owens Townsand, honorable mention

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Jasmine Green, PSUAC All-Conference, PSUAC Player of the Year, USCAA All-American, Penn State Beaver/USCAA Tip-Off Tournament Team, Mt. Aloysius/Hampton Inn Coaches vs. Cancer Classic All-Tournament Team, USCAA Co-Player of the Week (December 9, 2009) Heather Sandusky, PSUAC All-Conference, USCAA All-American, Penn State Beaver/USCAA Tip-Off Tournament

Team, Penn State Beaver/USCAA TipOff Tournament MVP, USCAA Player of the Week (January 26, 2010) Jessica Bartges -, PSUAC honorable mention All-Conference, Mt. Aloysius/Hampton Inn Coaches vs. Cancer Classic All-Tournament Team, USCAA honorable mention Player of the Week (February 2, 2010)

Ashley Watkins, Softball Brandon Alexander, Baseball Derrick Brown, Men’s Basketball Patrick Vaughan, Soccer Issac Houston, Soccer Andrew Reda, Soccer Cody Moldovan, Baseball Alex Filippi, Baseball Ronnie Wilkins, Baseball

Zach Fetchin, PSUAC All Conference USCAA All American Tim Kubis, PSUAC All Conference Honerable mention Coach Marcess Williams, USCAA Coach of the Year

Greg Frederick, honorable mention Pitcher of the Week (4/13/10)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

FALL 2009 PSUAC ALL-ACADEMIC

Alysia Policaro , Women’s Basketball and Softball Heather Sandusky, Volleyball and Women’s Basketball Jessica Bartges, Women’s Basketball Maria Corradi, Women’s Basketball Jen Hain, Volleyball Paige Hostetter, Volleyball Litisha Montaque , Volleyball

USCAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Kayla Chambers, honorable mention Pitcher of the Week (4/20/10) Ashley Watkins, Player of the Week (4/20/10) Zac Fetchin, Co-Player of the Week (1/19/10)

Jessica Bartges, honorable mention Player of the Week (2/2/10) Katie Landis, honorable mention Player of the Week (1/26/10)

Heather Sandusky, Player of the Week (1/19/10) Jasmine Green, Co-Player of the Week (12/2/09)

If you love sports and love to write, you’ll love Comm 001.

Sign up today.

PAGE 22

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Sports

Softball team looks ahead to playoffs Shelby Parks

“Nationals are a complete 180 from our conference, so it is hard to tell what could happen in matching up against tough opponents. The only thing I know is, if we stay focused and confident, we can be successful and competitive in the national tournament.”

STAFF WRITER smp345@psu.edu

Despite a rocky start to the season, the Penn State Beaver softball team is dominating the Penn State University Athletic Conference.

The Lady Lions have outscored their conference opponents 113 to 20.

With an undefeated conference record and just three games left in the season, the team expects to travel to Penn State University Park to compete in the PSUAC championship May 1 and 2.

Senior catcher Alonna Verrico said leadership is a key reason for the team’s success.

“It is always good to have someone motivating you, but it takes a team to make a difference,” Verrico said.

Senior pitcher Sam Neely agreed.

“It’s not just the seniors stepping up to be leaders. I would say all the upperclassmen have stepped up and got their job done,” Neely said.

“They showed the freshman how to win and play with confidence and how to not dwell on your personal errors and to cheer the team on even if you are not playing.”she added.

Another reason that the Lady Lions have kept winning is because they trust each other.

“When a pitcher throws a hittable pitch, she has to have confidence that her teammates will have her back,” Verrico said.

Clearly, the players in the field have had the pitcher’s back. But although fielding may be strong, hitting is what keeps the Lady Lions on top.

“Pretty much, everyone is hitting. At times the hitting can be dominant,” Coach Andy Kirschner said.

“We’ve been so successful because we have not played to the level of our competition and have hit the ball regardless of the pitching of the other team,” Neely said.

“We are playing well. We’ve beat up a couple of teams here and there,” Kirschner said.

They Lady Lions were tested when the traveled to Penn State Fayette April 20 for a doubleheader.

The first game went into extra innings. With their backs were against the wall, the Beaver Lady Lions answered, exploding for five

Alonna Verrico

Senior

THE ROAR/AMY GREEN

Jocelyn Wensel stands ready to receive a pitch during a home game against Penn State Mont Alto April 18. runs in the eighth inning to win the game.

Sophomore Ashley Watkins finished the game with three hits, two home runs and a double, driving in five runs.

Freshman Chelsea Barnes and sophomore Lindsey Scialdone each

had two hits.

Junior Kayla Chambers pitched eight innings, gave up two earned runs, had six hits, walked two and struck out 12 to pick up her eighth win of the season.

In the second game, Beaver easily defeated Fayette 11-0, led offen-

sively and defensively by freshman Korey Freyermuth.

Freyermuth led off the scoring in the first inning with a grand slam.

She also pitched five scoreless innings, striking out four. Verrico and sophomore Jessica Campbell

each had two hits.

“We are playing as a team. I think everyone has realized that we need one another to play. Without a pitcher, I wouldn’t be so successful at catching. Without sacrifice hitters, the power hitters couldn’t score runs,” Verrico said.

With everything working so flawlessly the Lady Lions have gained respect from their conference opponents.

“I don’t think they are necessarily scared, but very intimidated. We don’t fear anything. If we are down in the game, we have the confidence to stay calm and know we are going to make a fight to come back,” Verrico said.

Looking ahead Neely and Verrico said they feel that their team is ready to compete not only in the PSUAC’s but also at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship May 4.

“Nationals are a complete 180 from our conference, so it is hard to tell what could happen in matching up against tough opponents,”Verrico said.

The only thing I know is, if we stay focused and confident we can be successful and competitive in the national tournament,” she added.

“We are going to try our hardest to get the job done. I would say that I would want to finish better than fourth – that is the highest we have finished,” Neely said.

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

PAGE 23

Sports A ROCKY FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON AND AN INJURY TO A SENIOR HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON BASEBALL TEAM

Lions ranked No. 2 in conference Jennifer Zuratovic

“We’re a young team this year, much like a young deer – still trying to get our legs underneath us.”

STAFF WRITER jrz5049@psu.edu

The Penn State Beaver baseball team is fighting its way through the season with a 10-4 record in the Penn State University Athletic Conference, 14-11 overall.

With this being Coach Jack Hilfinger’s first year as head coach, the road to success has proven to be a challenge for the men.

“We’re a young team this year, much like a young deer – still trying to get our legs underneath us,” senior Ryan Raraigh said.

The team got off to a rocky start with a 4-6 record heading into conference play.

It also lost its first two conference games against Penn State Greater Allegheny.

But since then the team has won 10 conference games and dropped only two more, bringing the Lions into contention for second-place in the PSUAC. The conference championship is slated for May 1 and 2.

“Out of all four of my years here, no team has ever bonded as well as this group of guys,” senior pitcher Greg Frederick said.

Freshman Ryan Hudacsek, a pitcher, agreed.

“As a freshman, you always worry about coming onto a new team. But the older guys really took us in and helped us every step of the way,” he said.

Another senior, Joe Scherer, broke his hand on a slide into home at the April 1 game against Greater Allegheny.

He will have to sit the rest of the season out, but he won’t be doing it from the bench.

Scherer’s now the team’s acting first base coach.

“It’s very disappointing that I can’t play, but I’m still trying to help out my team in every way possible,” Scherer said.

On April 11, the team played a double header at home against Penn State Brandywine, winning the first game 6-1.

Penn State Brandywine would squeeze in only one point in the seventh inning.

Beaver took home another victory in the second game, winning 5-4.

Ryan Raraigh

Senior

THE ROAR/AMY GREEN

Markus Allen swings at a pitch thrown by the Penn State Mont Alto pitcher. Allen recorded his fifth homerun of the season during this game on April 18.

Frederick had 14 strikeouts and one earned run.

The team had a great weekend April 17 and 18, pulling off four wins in double-headers against the Wilkes-Barre and Mont Alto campuses.

On April 17, Beaver won 14-7 and 9-3 respectively at home.

In the first game, freshmen Alex Filippi had two hits and three RBIs, Markus Allen had three hits and two RBIs and Vincent Beatty had two hits and two RBIs. In the second game, Raraigh had three hits and two RBIs while Frederick brought in three more RBIs. Beaver kept Mont Alto scoreless April 18, with 4-0 and 3-0 scores respectively.

In the first game, Frederick pitched seven innings with 17 strikeouts. In the second game, Allen hit his fifth homerun of the season.

Beaver split a double-header against Fayette on the road April 20.

Beaver won the first game 7-3 but lost the second 5-3.

In the first game, Scherer pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits, walking two and striking out six to earn his first win of the season.

Freshman Cory Wagner homered in the win and drove in two runs.

In game two, Beaver struck first, scoring one in the third inning.

Fayette struck back with four unearned runs in the bottom of the inning.

With a 5-1 Fayette lead, Beaver rallied for two runs in the seventh inning, but fell short of the win.

The final score would end up being 5-3, spliting the double header.

Day in D.C.

PAGE 24

APRIL-MAY 2010 THE ROAR PENN STATE BEAVER

Features

Students visit Capitol On April 17, more than 40 students traveled to Washington, D.C., for the second year in a row.

The trip, sponsered by the Business Club and The Roar, took students to the nation’s capital. Students spent the day visiting historical sites and museums, including the Newseum, a museum dedicated to journalism.

“One day wasn’t enough to see everything,” junior Seth Edwards said.

Thanks to funding from the Student Activity Fee, the trip cost just $10 for the bus ticket and an additional $10 to tour the Newseum.

After that, students had the rest of the day to explore the city.

THE ROAR/DANA SKLACK

Above, students view the outside of the White House. Right, Raydale Thomas, Jennifer Hain, Corithian Jones, Abby LeGore, Lucas Morack, Robin Schreck and Nodira Fegly take a break from touring.

Above, the Capitol is seen during the sunny day. Left, Abby LeGore poses on the balcony of the Newseum.

THE ROAR/DANA SKLACK

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY SETH EDWARDS

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CORITHIAN JONES