March 2020
News
Penn State Beaver Roar
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Athletes tell Provost Jones their concerns NATE SHARIF
Senior Staff Writer
nas5857@psu.edu
Students who attended a “meet and greet” with top university administrators Jan. 30 complained about poor conditions related to Penn State Beaver athletics. During the meeting, members of the women’s soccer team complained to Provost Nick Jones and Vice President Madlyn Hanes that they don’t have a field on campus to play on, as well as the poor condition of the locker rooms. Other Beaver teams – baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball – have their own fields to play on, they said. The men’s and women’s soccer teams play at an off-campus field nearly 20 minutes away, but practice on the baseball field adjacent to the Wellness Center, which is comprised of half dirt, half grass. “I came from New York to play soccer at Penn State Beaver,” sophomore Stephanie Sosa said. “They made it sound like we had our own field, but no.” During the meeting, the soccer players said that the current state of the baseball field is unsatisfactory
The Roar / Alex Ditri
Provost Nick Jones listens to students during a meeting on Jan. 30.
for training and performing and has resulted in multiple physical injuries due to the inadequacy of the field. Director of Student Affairs Chris Rizzo said that he is aware of the quality concerns related to the baseball field, but the price quoted to renovate the field was very high. “We conducted a feasibility study and found that it would cost between $3 million to $5 million to build,”
Rizzo said. Unmoved by these financial numbers, the soccer team said they want to host fundraisers in order to pay for a new field. Sosa said the men’s teams receive two pairs of practice jerseys along with duffle bags. The soccer team further stated that the women’s locker rooms need much improvement, the quality of
the soccer equipment was subpar and the buses that transport them to their games often break down. Athletic Director Andy Kirschner said that the gym is undergoing a feasibility study to find out the cost of renovation, including the locker rooms. Sosa said the men’s teams get to ride in luxurious coach buses while the women’s soccer team is transported in rental vans that consistently breakdown. Kirchner said that the vans utilized for team transportation on game day are a “hodgepodge” of both vans and buses rented through Enterprise. “The need for a soccer field is on the radar but the need has gone down,” Kirschner said, calling the off-campus field currently being used “top notch.” The women’s soccer team has 22 players from multiple states such as Pennsylvania, Florida and New York. “We could have gone anywhere else, but we chose Penn State Beaver,” Sosa said. “Our uniforms are soiled with oil stains and have holes in them.” Provost Jones said the team’s willingness to want to pay for new items
POLICE BEAT
Sexual assualt reported on campus A student reported being sexually assaulted in Harmony Hall on March 3. The report was made at 1:17 a.m., but the police report did not indicate a time that the alleged assault occurred. Police would provide no other details regarding the incident. A Timely Warning, as required by the federal Clery Act, was also not issued regarding the alleged assault as of more than a day after the assault was reported. The Clery Act requires that a notification go out to the entire University Community “to alert of a potential or ongoing threat of a Clery Reportable Offense,” as stated on the Penn State Police website. The website says that Timely Warnings
are sent via text and email through the PSUAlert system, and that “hard copies are sometimes posted in residence hall complexes and other buildings on campus.” Sgt. Marque Weiss said, “Every Clery crime has a timely warning decision matrix. If it falls into a timely warning, then it’s issued. If not, its not.” “A rape would fall into theat category,” said Sgt. Marque. “If there is a threat to the community, there is a warning sent out.”
STALKING AND HARASSMENT REPORTED
On Feb. 20 a student reported that
another student was being stalked on campus. The incident was reported at 8:49 p.m. University Police are still investigating. A student reported being harassed on campus on Feb. 29. The incident occurred between 8 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. Police are investigating and could not indicate if the cases are related.
CAR CRASH
On Jan. 17, University Police received a report from a student who said they were involved in a car crash at the intersection of University Drive and Brodhead Road between 1 a.m. and 1:55 a.m. There were no injuries reported.
such as a field shows a lot of heart. Jones said that the passion of Penn State students is remarkably serious. “When I feel that sort of passion, that tells me that this is something that is really important to the students… and when a number of students chime in … that tells me this is worthy of us having a good look at.” Adam Rathbun, director of finance and business, said that the athletics budget for Beaver is much smaller than other campuses, however, there is nothing preventing the women’s soccer team from fundraising for better uniforms, balls and other accessories. “Any funds raised are allocated towards the cost center of that specific team,” Rathbun said. Rathbun said he was not aware of the division between the sports teams. Chancellor Jenifer Cushman said she was clueless about the lack in quality uniforms. Cushman said Beaver needs to re-examine its strategic plan and look forward for solutions to these problems. Jones said athletics is important at all Penn State campuses. “We want to invest in athletics; we want to invest in the student experience.”
Lomotey trial delayed again JESSE JAMERY
Senior Staff Writer jjj192@psu.edu
Assistant Professor of Information Sciences and Technology Richard Lomotey has had his non-jury trial continued once again. According to Allegheny County court documents, the trial has been rescheduled for May 12, which is a year and a day after the original charges were first filed against Lomotey. Lomotey, who moonlighted as an Uber driver, is accused of holding female passengers against their will in his car. Lomotey is facing trial on charges of kidnapping, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, false imprisonment and harassment. “Lomotey remains on leave as the case makes its way through the court system,” Director of Campus Relations Kristen Doerschner said. Lomotey pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him on Nov. 6 and has maintained his innocence throughout the entire legal process.
