10.1.21

The Penn

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021

HOMECOMING IS JUST GETTING WARMED UP

CULTURE | PAGE 12

VOL. 114 NO. 11

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N E W S LGBTQ+ flag raised on campus News Editor: Benjamin Brumbaugh – msqy@iup.edu

Flag flown in support of students in front of Elkin Hall BEN BRUMBAUGH News Editor msqy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP’s Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement (MCSLE) is showing its support for the LGBTQ+ community at the university.

MCSLE has raised a rainbow flag representing the LGBTQ+ community on the lawn outside of the Great Room of Elkin Hall.

The raising of this inclusive flag was made possible because of IUP’s participation in the “It’s On Us” program, a program with a mission of combatting sexual assault and violence on college campuses.

“This year, our campus is especially focused on reaching out to

our LGBTQIA+ student population,” Tedd Cogar, MCSLE’s senior assessment coordinator and LGBTQ+ support, said.

“To facilitate this, we applied for a grant that was a collaboration between the Social Equity and Title IX Office, LGBTQIA+ Support and the Haven Project.

“As a part of this grant, we asked for funding to cover the cost of the installation of the flagpole to further convey the university and MCSLE’s support of our LGBTQIA+ students.”

Part of the motivation for this action was in response to student feedback that the university received from the Walking Audit on campus that was facilitated by the Social Equity and Title IX Office and the LGBTQ+ Commission in the fall of 2020.

Students who are a part of

the LGBTQ+ community at IUP indicated that flying a pride flag on campus would help them feel cared for and more included.

The raising of this flag sends a clear and visible message of the support that IUP has for its LGBTQ+ students.

“While there are many flags that represent a range of LGBTQ+ identities, the Progressive Pride flag that is flying is not only an acknowledgement of students’ sexual orientation and/or gender identity, but incorporates the transgender pride flag as well

(iup.edu) The flag, which flies in front of Elkin Hall, will be formally dedicated in a ceremony on Oct. 12 at noon. The event is open to all IUP students and faculty.

News

October 1, 2021

as the inclusion of the colors of black and brown to acknowledge the experiences of queer people of color,” Dr. Melanie Duncan, assistant diversity and inclusion officer/ deputy Title IX coordinator, said.

“This flag is viewed as being more inclusive of the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ communities and their experiences.”

IUP strives for diversity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community in other ways as well.

“The Office of Social Equity and Title IX strives to make sure that every student is getting their education without concern that they will experience bias or discrimination,” Duncan said.

“We address incidents that are reported to our office and are continually looking for areas of improvement both in and out of the classroom.”

Students do not have to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community to show their support for it and to

be an ally.

“There are lots of great educational programs that are offered around our campus that students can come to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ communities, but also how to be an ally,” Cogar said.

“Participate in ally training and learn how to show support for your peers in and out of the classroom and come to the National Coming Out Week events that are being put on the week of Oct. 11.”

These inclusion efforts not only send a positive message to current IUP students, but also to students who may be considering the university for their college education.

“There is a place for you at IUP,” Duncan said.

“Whether that be through our student groups (PRIDE Alliance, Trans Tea Time or the LGBTQIA+ Grad Group) that are supported by the Office of LGBTQIA+ Support, through affinity housing or in our curriculum through the LGBTQ Studies Minor, there is a place for you at IUP.” For more information about LGBTQ+ initiatives and events on campus, students can visit https:// www.iup.edu/lgbtqia/.

(dezeen.com) The original pride flag was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. The flag has since been redesigned to be more inclusive.

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News

Homecoming Concert 2021

(Miranda Beish/STATIC) Yesterday, IUP held its annual homecoming concert at the Kovalchick Center and Athletic Complex (KCAC). This year’s performers were Pittsburgh musical duo Social House and Lil Yachty. Doors for the concert opened at 7 p.m. The event was presented by IUP’s Student Activity Committee (STATIC). Social House is comprised of musicians Michael “Mikey” Foster and Charles “Scootie” Anderson, who formed the duo in 2015 after moving to Los Angeles from Pittsburgh. They have produced and written songs for Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Brown. Lil Yachty is a popular rapper from the Atlanta, Georgia area. He released his debut mixtape “Lil Boat” in 2016. Since then, he has released three additional albums. All four of his albums have charted within the top 20 of the Billboard 200 list, which keeps track of the most popular albums in the United States.

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October 1, 2021

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National Voter Registration Day at IUP IUP Votes event held in front of North Dining Hall TANNER SCHELL Staff Writer dsqcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP Votes held a promotional voter registration event in front of the North Dining Hall in honor of National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday.

“Voting is an opportunity to use your voice to influence what your community looks like and how it's shaped,” Kevin Foster, assistant director for the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement, said.

Voting tends to drop on off-year elections like the one coming up on Nov. 2.

“The smaller ones are the ones where local officials are being elected and are therefore more likely to interact with the locals than, say, the president or governor would,” Foster said.

College students are less likely to register to vote in their municipality due to it being a different one than their hometown.

That is a large part why the IUP Votes organization exists: to allow students to register in the Indiana county and even check to see if they are registered to vote in Pennsylvania.

“Students who start the process of voting now are more likely to be engaged the rest of their lives,” Foster said.

IUP Votes strives to promote lifelong civic engagement for students at IUP. “If you’re registered, you can vote [and] you can help decide who your local candidates are; it's pretty simple,” Brian Doyle (senior, history), president of the IUP Democrats, said.

The booth offered voter registration forms as well as information for online voter registration.

Pennsylvania is one of the few states with online voting registration which was set up in 2018.

The website, vote.pa.gov, has a button on the left-hand corner to click on for registration.

Since IUP is a university, students must use a specific address when it comes to mail, and the same goes with voting.

“We are providing information regarding residential addresses versus campus addresses,” Foster said.

Students who live on campus must provide the correct information to receive their voting registration.

If you are on campus in the fall, you will most likely see IUP Votes out trying to encourage students to vote.

“IUP Votes does voter registration throughout the year but most often during the fall. They do this all over campus as well,” Foster said.

In-person voting opportunities and mail-in ballots are available to all students of IUP. This event went on from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with various students registering to vote at the booth.

“It's really important that students as well as all people can get out and vote if they want to see the changes they want,” Foster said.

The last day to register to vote before the upcoming election is Oct. 11.

“I don’t see how people who don’t vote get to complain about stuff because if you want change it, vote,” Julia Brown (senior, nursing) said.

“If we don’t have the representation we want, why should I vote and not complain?” Alex Peterson (freshman, political science) said.

IUP Votes will be hosting a few more events before the election to make sure that people sign up to vote. Every vote matters, and every vote counts.

(citylimits.org) The first National Voter Registration Day was in 2012. 4.5 million people have registered on this day.

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News

Homecoming events kick off Alumni speak about Black experience at IUP

(Nick Schmidt/The Penn) On Thursday, the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement and IUP Ambassadors hosted an event for students featuring alumni speakers. According to https://iup.campuslabs.com/engage/event/7423092, “Black students, faculty and staff are invited to join a discussion with an IUP alumni committee that aims to improve the academic success and social experience of Black students at IUP. Black Experience Alumni Committee members hope to learn about the current Black student experience, the needs of IUP’s Black students and the best ways to communicate with this audience. Open to all IUP students, faculty and staff, this event is an opportunity to network with successful Black alumni and to give feedback about IUP to those who will advocate on Black students’ behalf.” Students who attended the event were treated to refreshments and got an IUP swag bag. One of the alumni speakers at the event was Na’eem Allen-Stills (standing, top right). Allen-Stills graduated from IUP in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in higher education and student affairs at Ohio State University.

News

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IUP staff reorganizes JULIA ROBINS Staff Writer spxbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP This fall, Vice President for University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna reconfigured employee positions in division offices.

The employees whose positions that were changed combined current employees and a few new employees. This was not done out of concern or for the aftermath of a less than successful year, but quite the opposite.

At the end of 2020, the Imagine Unlimited Campaign raised $81.36 million in donations, more than $6 million beyond its $75 million goal, and the funding was raised six months ahead of schedule. The aim is to do even better with a new set of planning goals.

“This reorganization is designed to better serve the current and future needs of the university, and, especially, the needs of our students,” Osseiran-Hanna said.

“Our work is broad, and we look forward to continuing our ongoing collaborations with our internal colleagues and our affiliated organizations all while continuing to strengthen relationships and regard for IUP with our external constituents.”

David Maudie is now the executive director of the Development and Planned Giving Department.

He graduated from IUP in 1987 with a health and physical education degree.

He has six years of experience at IUP in planned giving and major gift positions before this promotion. He also had a 19-year career with Boy Scouts of America and managed hundreds of volunteers and raised more than a million for them in funds.

“The Development and Planned Giving Department at IUP works to develop relationships with donors to assist them in how their substantial gifts can work over time and how impactful their gifts are on students and the university,” Chris Noah, IUP’s chief marketing officer, said.

Joe Reinard is now a major gift officer. He is a 2005 alumnus from IUP with dual majors of physical education and sport and management information systems. He also achieved a Master of Business Administration degree.

The major gift officer’s main role is to find donors to support IUP students and programs to meet fundraising goals.

“I love the position,” Reinard said. “When attending IUP as a stu-

dent, I came from modest means, so I relied on scholarships and financial assistance.

“I can now pay it forward by getting scholarships for those who need it.”

Prior to this position, Reinard spent 14 years at Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) as the CEO in the Bloomsburg area.

“My tenure at the YMCA taught me a litany of fundraising skills and how to be a steward in the community,” Reinard said.

Both Maudie and Reinard were selected for their roles due to their years of experience in fundraising strategy and planning as stated by Noah.

“I know donations and gifts are essential for the university, and it seems they have made some good moves and put in some good people,” Christina Horst (junior, psychology) said.

John Buckshaw is also now a major gifts associate. He was a marketing graduate at IUP in 1999 and also worked with the American Red Cross as a marketing and public relations director.

The Office of Alumni and Friends has also merged with the Office of Engagement and University Events for the new title of the Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement.

Jennifer Dunsmore has been given the role of assistant vice president for Alumni and Constituent Engagement. As a 1988 IUP alumna with a degree in journalism, she has 23 years of experience in the field of constituent engagement and worked with the American Red Cross. She was previously the donor relations manager and then director of Engagement and University Events before this change occurred.

Christina Koren is now the director of strategic partnerships.

She works with building community outreach and government connections. Koren is currently finishing her dissertation for the IUP doctoral program in administration and leadership studies.

Prior to IUP, Koren served as the executive director of mission integration and community engagement at Mount Aloysius College and led 18 student service and cultural immersion trips internationally.

Morgan England (sophomore, pre-physician assistant) spoke positively about the change in employee positions and their effect in the IUP community.

“I think this shift is a great change considering it’s helping the students within the IUP community,” England said.

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News

IUP welcomes Cam Brown to campus Six O’Clock Series focuses on personal success RACHEL KOVACH Staff Writer rsrbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP “Every day, you have a chance and a choice; make the best of it … today, your life will change. You all took a chance to come here, and you’re making the choice to not get up and leave,” Cam Brown said.

On Monday, Brown presented IUP’s Six O’Clock Series. His presentation covered a multitude of subjects and explored different areas in life that are important to becoming successful in the working world.

Brown is a 2016 graduate of Western Illinois University. While he was there, Brown got involved in various activities and jobs on campus.

“What got me the most is when I graduated, there were another thousand students that had the same type of golden ticket that I did,” Brown said. “It’s like looking at 100 Gatorades that are all the same flavor.

“How do you know which one to grab?”

Brown stressed the importance of marketing oneself.

The golden ticket he is talking about is an analogy to the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” but used in a way that relates to what makes each individual special.

“In my senior year, my ‘attention grabbers’ changed my life,” Brown said.

“I walked into the career room and walked around, and we had companies like John Deere, Coca Cola, health services and law enforcement, and I shook a man’s hand. His name was Steve DeMarco.

“I said, ‘How are you doing? My name is Cam Brown.’”

Brown said to always say your full name because you are a business. He made sure that the audience knew that they could achieve anything they put their mind to if they just have that “spark” and motivation, even if

(cappex.com) Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Ill. The university has about 7,500 students enrolled and over 5,800 of those are undergraduate students. The campus sits on more than 1,000 acres and offers a wide variety of degree options for students. their grades were not stellar.

“I was not a 4.0 student, and I was sent to college on the ‘chance program,’” Brown said.

“When I was at Western, I had companies coming down to interview me.

“That was weird because I wasn’t a 4.0 student. I graduated with a 3.1 GPA, but I had friends with 4.0s, but they weren’t getting job offers. They were still stuck.”

Brown added that even if it does not seem like it, students are closer to their dreams today than they were yesterday.

“If you had to think of a dream, something that you’re working towards right now, do you think you’re closer to your dream today than you were yesterday?” Brown said. “Find those things that motivate you and will keep you pushing every single day.”

Brown went on to mention that money should not be the only consideration when it comes

to finding a job. The important aspect to focus on is the student’s passion that can offer benefits outside of a good salary.

Unfortunately, Brown got a lot of pushback from people who questioned his abilities and strengths based on the communications degree he earned.

“I went to school for communication; you would imagine what I had to fight for [with] communication,” Brown said.

“People told me that communication doesn’t do anything, and you can’t get a job with communications.

“Understand how your degree and your experience can benefit or solve a problem.”

Brown continued to remind the audience to know their worth and their capabilities.

“One check, one title, one opportunity or one relationship does not determine your value,” Brown said.

“You put the price tag on yourself.”

Brown said that the key to his success was understanding all that he was capable of and all the different skills that he had that could benefit others.

You can’t be one-dimensional, Brown said. You have to demon-

strate that your skills serve many purposes and can be used in many different situations.

“Life is so dynamic and large that things start to intertwine,” Brown added.

“So, becoming brave enough to become more than one thing was a push for me.”

(wiu.edu) Western Illinois University was founded over 120 years ago in 1899.

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(Nick Schmidt/The Penn) In addition to the in-person portion of the career exposition and graduate school fair, an online portion was held on Thursday that allowed participation via Zoom.

Students explore careers, internships Career expo, graduate school fair held at KCAC MOLLY CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer kydy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP On Wednesday, IUP held a career exposition and graduate school fair at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This was available for all IUP students using the I-Card for free admission.

There were 48 booths of employers for various jobs, internships, programs and graduate schools.

“The purpose of this fair is for IUP students to make connections with potential employers as well as graduate schools or programs they might be interested in,” Bill Zimmerman, IUP’s assistant director for employer engagement, said.

Zimmerman said that he reaches out to people about events, but companies and colleges come to him in order to get interns and workers as well.

“Come to these events even if you are a first year or a sophomore; come and meet and talk with potential employers,” Zim-

merman said.

Zimmerman said to learn about the employer’s position and the company that interests students as internships often end up leading to full-time positions.

“I’m here to get more information to see what direction to go in,” Kiarra Reilly (senior, criminology/psychology) said.

Lisabeth Breslawski (senior, criminology) was also attending the fair to get more information along with seeking internship opportunities.

Many students with a wide variety of majors can work for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. Eddie Bell listed some of the benefits for working there such as loan forgiveness and up to 95 percent of salary while in school. This company will also pay for a master’s degree and social work after working for them for two years.

“Give it a shot. You never know until you try it,” Bell said.

Students engaged with employers about the various opportunities that they were offering at the event.

Preston Roczko (senior, marketing) was interested in the Sherwin-Williams’ table. With Roczko

graduating in the spring, he said definitely consider student affairs tions and expand their network he wanted to make as many as a program,” Brown said. “It which will in turn expand their connections as he can before he gets more fun the more you do opportunities for future jobs and enters the professional world. it, and keep your mind open beinternships.

“I am here to find a career and cause it is such a diverse field.”

For more information, visit the hopefully a job in the future,” The fair was mutually beneficial Career and Professional DevelRoczko said. for students and recruiters. Peoopment Center on Pratt Drive or Tukisha Knight was the recruiter ple were able to make connecemail career-development@iup. who spoke to Roczko.

Knight said that there is a 90 percent internal hire rate with the Sherwin-Williams Company, meaning that they promote from within the company with their preexisting workers.

A fun fact that Knight shared was that the Golden Gate Bridge is painted with Sherwin-Williams paint.

“Paint your future here with Sherwin-Williams,” Knight said to Roczko.

Jesse Brown was talking to students about the IUP Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) Program, and he was expected to recruit people and make connections with students.

(Nick Schmidt/The Penn) “If you’ve enjoyed working as an undergrad- The KCAC is home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams.The univeruate student, I would sity holds a wide variety of events at the venue.

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News

Opinion

(Facebook) By surrounding yourself with people that are good for you, you can live a happier and more meaningful life.

Recognizing your potential means recognizing what holds you back

Letting go of toxic friendships allows you to surround yourself with good

(Facebook) Many times, people feel obligated to stay with ones that are negatively impact them.

Opinion

College is one of the first times many students will have a true sense of independence.

Students can choose their friends, classes and how they spend their weekends. The opportunities are endless. Because of the ability to choose, students can decide what elements in their lives benefit them or, alternatively, hurt them.

In high school, many students had one group of friends that stayed with them through everything. They probably were involved in the same activities and clubs and always hung out together after school or on the weekends. However, if these friends were toxic, students did not really get the chance to leave the friendship and start over. The group of toxic friends probably followed them until graduation.

Now, in college, if your friends are more harmful to you than they are good, you have countless opportunities to meet new people and start fresh.

If someone is not good for your well-being or mental health, do not feel obligated to keep them in your life. There is nothing wrong with letting go of people that are holding you back. You need to put yourself first. It is important to create boundaries, even with friends, to establish what is and is not okay in a friendship.

By putting yourself first, you can look at what you want in a friendship and if your friends are respecting your boundaries. You can look at how certain friends make you feel after interacting with them and if they are making time for you.

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Friendships are not one-sided. Both people need to put in the same effort. If you feel like you are the only one trying to maintain the friendship, then it is probably time to let go of it.

That is just one of many red flags in a toxic friendship. It may be hard to acknowledge that you need to let go of your bad friend because you have seen them as a real friend. You should not have to make excuses for inappropriate behavior, though.

You might want to let go of your old friend or friend group if you find that you are constantly stressed out around them, make excuses not to hang out or you do not trust them.

Letting go of people can be extremely hard but, in the end, it will benefit you. You should be surrounding yourself with people

that want to encourage and support you. Your friends should make you feel energized and happy. You should not have to alter your personality when you are with your friends.

In the end, do what is best for you. Be honest and have a conversation with your friend if you feel like it is best to let things go. It will be difficult, but you will have plenty of chances to meet new friends who will be better for you.

Make sure you limit your contact with your old friends and remove them on social media if you decide to let them go. This will allow you to have your own space and look at the situation from a distance. This also removes the temptation of reaching out again.

Brought to you By The Penn Editorial Board

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Culture

Culture Editor: Lane Lannan – ffpcc@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Caio Gomes – hysbc@iup.edu

Homecoming is just getting warmed up IUP welcomes Lil Yachty, Social House for concert

(STATIC/Twitter/Caio Gomes/The Penn) Tickets for the concert were sold at the box office at the KCAC.

STATIC CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP My name is Caio and I won’t be static when it comes to covering STATIC’s many events.

Yesterday, the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) kicked off IUP’s Homecoming weekend with the traditional Homecoming concert.

This year’s concert was headlined

by Lil Yachty, a rapper known for his platinum hits “Broccoli” and “One Night.”

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Besides playing his hits, Lil Yachty also performed some of his new songs from his latest album “Lil Boat 3” from 2020 and his extended play record (EP) “Birthday Mix 4” from 2021; the latter came out a month ago, meaning the songs performed were still very fresh.

“Vibes,” Lil Yachty said when asked by Variety Magazine to describe “Lil Boat 3” in a word. “Seriously, it is up-tempo. I got some slappers (good songs) on there and it is fun.”

While Lil Yachty rocked IUP’s boat for most of the night, he was not alone on stage. Before his performance, the Pittsburgh-based duo Social House, known for their top-10 hit “Boyfriend” featuring Ariana Grande, opened up the concert.

While the duo’s setlist was short given that they were only an

opening act, Social House delivered a passionate energy that was more than enough to prepare the crowd for the main act. Students praised the contrast of genres between Social House and Lil Yachty. Lil Yachty is a rap artist with some songs influenced by trap whereas Social House is a rhythm and blues (R&B) duo with some elements of electronic.

“While I personally could not make it to the concert because I was busy, I appreciate the diversity,” John Kroh (sophomore, biology/ pre-medicine) said. “I am not really a fan of rap music. I do like R&B and pop, so I think that it was a good decision to have a balance between the genres so the Homecoming concert catered to multiple audiences.”

The choices of both the concert headliner and opening act are made

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by STATIC members. Students interested in helping STATIC prepare not only for the next Homecoming but for the several events that will take place this year can become a general member by contacting its general membership chair, Sydney Greitz, through email at bbsbc@iup.edu.

Yesterday’s concert took place at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. This marked IUP’s first in-person homecoming since 2019, meaning that for both first-year students and sophomores this was their first “real” college homecoming experience.

This led some people to attend the concert regardless of whether or not they were familiar with the artists.

“To be honest, I did not really know much about the artists before

attending the concert,” Brandon Kimmel (sophomore, nursing) said.

“I don’t really follow the music scene that much, so I attended mostly to have a good time with my friends and get the ‘college experience.’

“I’m glad I did [come] because it was a really fun experience. [It was] one of those things that you can only understand by attending.”

Overall, the Homecoming concert sounded like a success for the students that attended and was a great kick off for the Homecoming weekend. Tomorrow, the Homecoming game against Gannon will take place at 2 p.m. and will be followed by a late-night party at the KCAC. To all students partaking in Homecoming activities, The Penn wishes a fun and safe Homecoming weekend.

Culture

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(ATOD/Campus Labs/IUP/Twitter) There are four steps to the program: register on Crimson Connect, create and hang a sign in your window, chalk safety messages around campus, and post safety messages on social media using #IUPLeads.

Program to help students stay safe during Homecoming LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP While having fun is important, safety is the top concern for IUP. With the IUP Homecoming events approaching quickly, there is a lot of discussion as to how students will be kept safe from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as the subsequent Delta variant.

Luckily, the university has devised a solution to the concerns in the hashtag #IUPLeads. “#IUPLeads was started to provide student organizations an opportunity to help create a safer IUP community, specifically around high-risk celebratory events,” Ann Sesti, the director of Student Wellness and Engagement Center for Health and Well-Being, said.

Events that are big at IUP, like Homecoming in the fall semester and IUPatty’s in the spring semester, are prime examples of why #IUPLeads was established; however, as stated by Sesti, there has been an alteration to the program for 2021. Students are now allowed to participate in the program instead of just organizations taking part.

“This year, for Homecoming, we decided to make this opportunity available to individual students,” Sesti said. “This allows students to get involved.”

A lot of students tend to spend time on social media platforms, so having fellow peers promoting safety on campus would get the message out a lot faster.

Even though the #IUPLeads student plan only has about ten students taking part in it so far, there is hope that more will join as the word spreads to other areas of the IUP student body.

There are incentives for students to join the program. According to the campus labs’ website for #IUPLeads, https://iup.campuslabs. com/engage/event/7412659, there are plans to award more than $500 in prizes. The prizes range from gift cards to a smart TV. Seeing as students have to do very little to potentially win the prizes, it is worth their time to join in on the fun.

Prizes are for those who actively participate in the program by posting safety messages on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #IUPLeads.

“We believe there needs to be a comprehensive approach to addressing safety,” Sesti said. “Emails and efforts from administration, staff and faculty are important and set the tone. Having students hear from their peers is another important way to spread the message.”

There are likely many students at IUP that simply do not check their emails regularly enough to see university safety messages, and if they do see it they may just disregard it.

Having the safety messages shared by fellow students on social media

make it harder to ignore.

Students who are interested are still able to join the program until Oct. 2. After that, #IUPLeads for Homecoming will be closed, but there will likely be an opening for later events in the school year. If

students have any questions about future events for #IUPLeads, they should be directed to atod-oasis@ iup.edu.

With all that in mind, The Penn wishes students a happy and safe Homecoming weekend. Remem-

ber to wear masks indoors as per the university mandate, and stay home if you are not feeling well. However, if you feel fine, then head out and safely enjoy the events planned for Homecoming 2021.

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October 1, 2021

Culture

Students share thoughts as midterms approach KIARA WASHINGTON

Contributing Writer mfmy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Few things are more daunting to college students than midterm exams.

As midterms quickly approach, the students at IUP prepare themselves to make sure they have all the necessary tools needed in order for them to pass their exams.

Midterms begin the week of Oct. 3.

Students have been going to different places like the computer labs, the middle of the Oak Grove and other quiet spaces for them to study; however, the most popular place where students are going to study is at the library.

Whether students are studying in study groups or individually, all three floors in the library are filled with IUP students.

The library is open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. throughout Monday and Thursday and is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday.

Students are definitely using the library times to their advantage.

“I’m in the library until it closes. The library helps me focus way more than studying in my room or studying outside does,” Reighan Jackson (senior, child development) said.

Students explained how they are planning to study for midterms and what study habits either work or do not work for them.

“I like to rewrite my notes so I can accurately understand them.

I also like to make Quizlets and take Quizlets. They help me better understand the concepts that my professors teach as well,” Madison Pease (senior, human

resources/general management) said.

“I like to make study guides or review the study guides my professors provide. I just study them.

I also can’t study with a group of people; I get distracted easily. I just put music on and do what I need to do,” Jackson said.

While some students are preparing for midterms, others have not wrapped their minds around the fact that they are so soon.

“It’s very overwhelming because some of my professors have not given us any information about the midterm; what’s going to be on it or anything like that,” Lauren Funk (junior, criminology and forensic bioscience) said.

It can be difficult to study content for classes when students do not know exactly what they should be studying. That is why some students came up with their own ideas on how professors should approach midterms in the future.

A few students think that it will be more beneficial if the professors take the initiative to let them know earlier what dates midterms are on so they can be better prepared.

“I think professors should let students know when their midterms are [and] not the week before midterms,” Funk said.

Some students think that professors should go back to old traditions. This includes review sessions that were rather popular. In these sessions, students were able to review as a group as opposed to being forced to be separate.

No matter what the preferred style of review or test-taking is, midterms will always be a stressful time for students. So go and get help from professors however you can, and make sure to study to be as prepared as possible.

(IUP Libraries/Twitter) The library is a location that many student go to find quiet places to study.

(Rebecca Walker/The Penn) President Driscoll kicked off the event by giving instructions to the students and staff in attendance.

IUP brings back annual banned book reading REBECCA WALKER Staff Writer blddc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP In one word, literature is art.

Literature can be a form of communication, expression or imagination. Yet, some forms of this art are censored or banned from schools and libraries.

IUP held its annual Banned Books reading event on Wednesday morning in the Stapleton Library. For more than an hour, faculty, staff and students gathered to celebrate and read from remarkable works of literature included on the 2021 list of banned books.

As students entered the event, they were given the option to choose from a list of passages from different banned books to read aloud. Introductions were given

by IUP President Michael Driscoll, and then the reading of excerpts began. Students and faculty took turns approaching the podium and bringing life to the work of others.

Students with a variety of interests attended the event for their universal appreciation of the English language.

“I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to get to see all these wonderful people and read and hear all the wonderful passages,” Cole Kilhoffer (sophomore, media production/English) said.

Readings included excerpts from “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou; “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” by Zora Neale Hurston; “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” by Stephen

Chbosky; “Angels in America,” by Tony Kushner; “1984,” by George Orwell; “The Diary of a Young Girl,”

by Anne Frank; and “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker.

Many faculty members read from the list and shared their own memories with the various authors and books. Mr. Brian Sateriale, Dr. Gian Pagnucci, Mrs. Carol Asamoah, Dr. Thomas Segar and Dr. Yaw Asamoah are just a few of the staff who read.

The event was held in a section of the library complete with coffee, cookies and other refreshments for attendees. The library faculty and staff, including Dr. Theresa McDevitt, helped to ensure the event ran smoothly.

Names were drawn a few times during the event for prizes. These prizes included t-shirts, books, Amazon gift cards and one large gift bag filled with prizes for one lucky winner.

Books are often banned or censored in places like public schools, libraries and even some bookstores. This occurs most often because of some form of racial issue in the book that may encourage racism or some form of violence or negativity.

Many students had a lot to say about the idea of banning and censoring literature that they have enjoyed and savored in their lifetimes.

“I believe that books tell the truth, sometimes hidden and sometimes obvious. Banning books from school is like taking a culture that is meant to be explored. Why ban books from school when they hold

so much knowledge and so much meaning?” Jasir Dash (freshman, English) said.

Students have voiced the importance of having a variety of literature to read and learn from. The world is not always easy or positive.

Banning books that are negative or show harsh realities of violence or racism hardly seems to be a logical way to help young people navigate and learn about the world.

“I think censorship is kind of weird in literature. It’s super important to, you know, hear from all kinds of people about all kinds of situations,” Jeanie Baughman (senior, English) said.

Those who chose to read were introduced and applauded for bringing life to the work they chose.

Attendees also shared some of their favorite banned books. Kilhoffer’s favorite is George Orwell’s “1984,” Dash’s favorite is Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” and Baughman’s favorite is J. D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye.” The event was concluded with a few words from Sateriale, who played a major role in organizing the event. There was a great deal of faculty and staff from different departments who made the event possible. Many stayed a few minutes after to mingle and talk about future events that will be taking place.

Freedom to read whatever one chooses is often taken for granted.

Although different forms of art may always be threatened with censorship, there will always be those that appreciate, love and respect it enough to keep it alive.

Culture

October 1, 2021

HOMECOMING SALE Wed., Sept. 29 - Mon., Oct. 4

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16

October 1, 2021

Culture

IUP promotes inclusion, diversity with Queer Conversations event KIARA WASHINGTON

Contributing Writer mfmy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The world today is constantly evolving. There are new terms, languages and sayings that have changed the culture, which means there is always something new to learn.

IUP ensures there is room for educating others by having discussions every Tuesday at 5 p.m. with a student dialogue called “Queer Conversations.” This is where a group of students come together at Elkin Hall to have an open, inclusive and fishbowl-like conversation on topics surrounding LGBTQ+ individuals and experiences.

Every Tuesday, there is a new topic that follows up with videos to further support the conversation on those topics. On Tuesday, the main two topics were about the LGBTQ+ identity in the Latino community, and, specifically, there was a focus on bisexuality and myths and stereotypes that surround the label.

It was talked about at the discussion that the term “Latinx” is gender neutral and is also used as an inclusive term for all.

When discussing the topic of bisexuality, it was explained how

it is fetishized when speaking on females but is looked down upon in regards to men’s bisexuality.

Those who identify with bisexuality sometimes feel as though they “have no win” due to the fact that people say false stereotypes such as “they are simply confused” or “they just want both genders; that’s selfish.”

Students were able to have a healthy conversation regarding these topics, which made one of the conversation planners very happy.

“I was inspired to have this conversation because I want this to be seen as an opportunity to educate. I hope to bring awareness to those who want to learn more while creating a safe space for all,” Selena Montijo (graduate student, student affairs/higher education) said.

A safe space is what this conversation is intended to be for students. The event planners’ main focus for the discussions is to have it be surrounded with respect and love.

“It is important to be prepared and address others about this topic with positivity,” Sasha Aquino (senior, psychology) said.

Students from different majors and backgrounds came together in order to both empathize and sympathize with each other’s

backgrounds and stories surrounding them coming out as a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

There are also many students who go to the conversations every Tuesday because they are afraid to come out. They see the Queer Conversations as a safe outlet or a sense of comfort to express oneself.

Students do not have to be a part of the community to go to the conversations. There are plenty of students who sit in the discussions to simply learn how to become a better ally, and how to take the information learned to share and educate others.

“It brings me hopefulness for the future because of how much this topic was thoughtfully talked about,” Nic Sealer (senior, business administration) said. “It shows that people really want to learn.”

Another topic that circles into the LGBTQ+ conversation is religion. It was discussed how religion can be toxic when it comes to one’s identity in this community. The conversation, however, was not all bad. Students also expressed their experience with religion where it was filled with love and acceptance.

Love and acceptance are two of the main focuses at Queer Conversations because they are the main focuses in life.

(Twitter) Coming out can be a stressful and scary situation for some. It is important to remember that you do not need to come out until you feel safe.

(LGBTQIA Support/Twitter/Facebook) Being able to talk about problems is important for any group, especially those that can be targets for hate.

Culture

October 1, 2021

17

(Twitter) The Latin Grammy Awards announced its nominations on Wednesday.

Students excited as music awards start VMAs, Latin Grammys spearhead season CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP As 2021 heads into its final quarter, music aficionados get excited for the beginning of the music awards season.

The awards season kicked off earlier this month during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

This year’s edition gained attention because many artists had breakthrough achievements.

One of the biggest stars of the night, Lil Nas X, was the first LGBTQ+ artist to win Video of The Year. He was also the first LGBTQ+ artist to win Best Director, and only the second artist to win both simultaneously. During his speech, he jokingly thanked the gay agenda for getting him to where he got.

“I think it is really nice to finally see a Black LGBTQ+ artist going as far as straight artists go,” Darius Flewellen (sophomore, English education) said. “For many years, it was hard to see people that looked like me reaching stardom, but now I can have some hope.”

The VMAs was also a breakthrough event for the Asian American and Pacific Island (AAPI)

community. Both Olivia Rodrigo, a Filipino American singer known for her number one hits “Driver’s License” and “Good 4 U,” and BTS, the iconic Korean pop boyband known for number one hits “Butter” and “Permission to Dance,” tied for the most wins of the night.

While the VMAs is an important event on its own, many music aficionados like to analyze the results of the awards show as a way to predict possible nominations and wins of the Recoding Academy Awards like the Grammy Awards (Grammys).

Often dubbed as “the music’s biggest night,” the Grammys are considered the most prestigious award in the music industry, and, for many artists, even getting just a nomination is already a big honor. “[Getting nominated last year] still feels surreal,” Park Jimin, lead vocalist of BTS, said. “We do know that it is a big honor, and we are deeply thankful.”

This year, Billboard predicts that BTS will garner a nomination for Song of the Year with the smash hit “Butter.” This year’s VMAs point in that direction as well, given that “Butter” won Song of the Summer.

The Song of the Year award, however, was granted to Rodrigo for her smash hit debut “Driver’s License.”

Billboard predicts that “Driver’s

License” will most likely notch a nomination for both Record of the Year as well as Song of the Year at the Grammys.

Students believe Rodrigo might have a better shot at the nomination with her massive hit “Good 4 U.” “I know that ‘Driver’s License’ was a big hit, but, to me, ‘Good 4 U’ was much more popular,” Flewellen said.

“I think she has a bigger chance with ‘Good 4 U’ because people of all different ages jammed to it.”

While nominations for the main Grammys will only be revealed in late November, the nominees for the Latin Grammy Awards were released Wednesday.

Popular Record of the Year nominees include Rauw Alejandro for his massive crossover hit “Todo de ti,” which was certified 6x Platinum in the United States despite being released just a few months ago, and Caetano Veloso, known for winning two Grammys for “Best World Music.”

Bad Bunny, who skyrocketed his career to a new level after his 24x Platinum and Billboard Hot 100 top-5 hit “Dakiti” performance at last year’s Grammys, garnered a nomination for Album of the Year for his album “El Último Tour del Mundo.”

“I am so excited to see Bad Bun-

(Lil Nas X/Twitter) Lil Nas X is one of many musicians that promote inclusivity in the music scene. ny win,” Tatiana Cleffi (sophomore, nursing) said. “I am confident that he will win; he is really good.”

Overall, the awards season is a great way to honor the world’s most beloved and popular artists.

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October 1, 2021

Culture

Sports

Editor-in-Chief: Jeffery Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu

Hawks excited to play in front of Homecoming crowd No. 25 IUP set to take on Gannon in battle of high-powered offenses JEFFERY HART Editor-in-Chief J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP “We have had great crowds so far this year and, with this being Homecoming, we are looking for another big crowd,” Paul Tortorella, IUP football head coach, said.

The last time IUP had its Homecoming game back in 2019 against Cal U, the Hawks had an impressive show out with 4,652 fans packed into George P. Miller Stadium. The Crimson Hawks are looking for a record-breaking crowd after the year off due to COVID-19 canceling the 2020 season.

It is Homecoming weekend for IUP, and the No. 25 IUP football team is looking to make another big splash against Gannon University with Harry Woodbery (graduate student, business administration) steering the ship at quarterback.

Last week, the Hawks took on the Mercyhurst Lakers and beat them handily 48-13. Woodbery accounted for five total touchdowns for the Hawks on offense.

His standout performance led to Tortorella coming out and making sure there is no quarterback (QB) controversy this week.

“Woodbery will start for us this week,” Tortorella said.

The Hawks will look to repeat the dominant performance they had against the Lakers last week on both offense and defense.

“It’s going to be hard to match the intensity and momentum we had over at Mercyhurst, those boys were turned up over there, but I feel like it being a home game and Homecoming will help. To be able play in front of our fans and on our field should help,” wide receiver Duane Brown (redshirt junior, sports administra-

19

tion) said.

“We have to continue to take care of the football on offense and get takeaways on defense,” Tortorella said. “Our turnover ratio is +7 after three games.”

For some of the players, they do not want to get too focused on their opponent’s plan. They want to stick to playing the game their way and making the opponent change their gameplan.

“It’s just another game, we don’t care what anybody else is doing. We are focused on us and what we gotta do to win. They can draw up whatever they want; if we play a full 60-minute game of IUP football, we are going be all right,” Brown said.

Last week alone the Hawks were able to get two interceptions from the Lakers’ offense that came at the hands of defensive backs Bryce Gibson (senior, Eberly college of business) and Sean McCaskill Jr. (freshman, communications media). IUP was great at shutting down the running game for Mercyhurst, allowing only 37 rushing yards.

This week the Crimson Hawks will take on the 2-2 Gannon Golden Knights. IUP has had the upper hand against Gannon in recent history winning nine out of their last 12 matchups.

The Hawks had a five-game winning streak that spanned from 2015-2019.

The last time these two teams met, IUP steam-rolled the Golden Knights in a 35-0 shutout in 2019.

Despite the dominance the Hawks have shown over Gannon, Tortorella is not underestimating his next opponent.

“They are very good offensively with balance, both running the ball and throwing it,” Tortorella said. “They throw the ball about 60 percent of the time.”

The Golden Knights are coming

off a dominant 56-21 win against Clarion last week. This was their most dominant win of the year.

Gannon put up an impressive 437 yards of total offense with 174 of those yards coming on the ground.

Gannon had an impressive showing from its quarterback Kory Curtis last week as he put up five total touchdowns against Clarion.

The Hawks turnover-hungry secondary is looking to capitalize off the Golden Knights’ pass-friendly offense.

This Homecoming weekend matchup will be a tough meeting between two offenses that can put up points in bunches through the air.

IUP will be looking to please its fans as the team will pack into P. Miller Stadium on Saturday looking for a big win as the Crimson Court for 2021 is announced.

Regardless of the outcome, this matchup has all the makings to be an offensive showdown between Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rivals.

(IUP Athletics) The Hawks are a combined 20-5 against Erie schools Mercyhurst and Gannon since 2008, including 11-2 at home.

October 1, 2021

Sports

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October 1, 2021

Sports

IUP takes over Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regionals Crimson Hawks sweep both singles, doubles titles, Kirchtag has standout performance

MATT GLOVER Staff Writer htpz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The IUP tennis team rallied to bring home the singles and doubles championships in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regionals last weekend.

“It was really a team effort,” head coach Larry Peterson said.

“We had six players in the round of 16, and we helped each other on the court.”

Karolin Kirchtag (senior, sports administration) won singles and was part of the doubles pairing that brought home the title.

“It feels very good,” Kirchtag said. “After I won my singles against [Prinkle] Singh, I knew I had a good chance of winning the tournament.”

“It’s absolutely fabulous for the team as a whole,” Peterson said. “It’s a great moment for Katy [Graydon] (sophomore, undecided) and Karolin [Kirchtag] to take steps forward with the program where we’ve never been before.”

The final pitted two IUP doubles pairs against each other: Graydon and Kirchtag versus Natasha Munday (graduate student, sports management) and Joanna Stralka (junior, biology pre-medicine).

“Obviously, you never want to play against your teammates,” Kirchtag said. “The good thing is that even if you don’t win, the champion will be IUP.” Since we practice against each other, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, she said.

“The people who are mentally tougher have a good shot at winning. The doubles were very tight, and Katy and I were able to win the important points at the end,” Kirchtag added.

A head coach in Peterson’s position might be thrilled to see his players doing so well.

“It was tough, actually,” Peterson said. “We spend so much time working on creating the right team environment and building positive relationships, so it’s always tough when you see teammates having to play each other in a competitive situation.”

They play with each other in practice almost every day, so they know each other’s games, Peterson added.

Before the final’s intensity, the IUP doubles pairings were

right there to support each other through the quarterfinal.

“We had three teams in the four [doubles] quarterfinal matches,” Peterson said, “so we were represented on three of the four courts.”

It became a team event more than an individual one, he said, and I think that helped everyone quite a bit.

“We played the top two teams from Charleston and the No. 2 team from Slippery Rock and blew them all out,” Peterson said. “On all three courts, the scores were 8-1, 8-2 and 8-2, so we really dominated the region with our doubles teams.

“That was probably my favorite moment of the event.”

“Katy and I have a really good relationship,” Kirchtag said. “We help each other to stay calm but have a good intensity.

“In the final set, she had some really good points and helped us to win the match.”

After the ITA Regional Championship excitement, the team is looking forward to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships this weekend in Bloomsburg.

In 2019, IUP represented well and had Stralka take home the PSAC singles title. The Hawks also had former player Katya Minchenkova and Idoia Huerta (senior, cell and molecular biology) represent IUP as doubles finalists.

“Only four of us, Katy (Graydon), Jo (Stralka), Tash (Munday) and I, are going,” Kirchtag said. “We definitely want to try to have a similar result like [at] at regionals.”

“Just because we had success last weekend doesn’t mean we’re automatically going to have success this weekend,” Peterson said.

“We have to go through the same process as athletes to find our best on the court.

“I think we’ve got a few different players and doubles teams who have a chance to do very well in the event, so we have to make sure we’re preparing ourselves and have the right mindset going in.”

My focus is on making sure we can put our heads down and go about our business regardless of the circumstances or event, he said.

“After PSAC, Katy and I are going to the ITA Cup,” Kirchtag said, “where we will play the best doubles teams in the nation. I will also compete in singles.”

(IUP Athletics) Kirchtag (top left middle) finished her weekend at ITA’s with a perfect 10-0 record, recording five wins in both the singles and doubles brackets.

Sports

October 1, 2021

21

(IUP Athletics) Despite their above .500 record, the Crimson Hawks sit second to last in the PSAC West ahead of only Mercyhurst with a 0-2 conference record.

Crimson Hawks take down Salem, looking ahead to 9-1 Fighting Scots JAY McGARY Staff Writer fwtz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP women’s volleyball faces one of its toughest opponents yet this Friday.

The Edinboro University Fighting Scots sit at 9-1 on the season, and most of their wins come from 3-0 sweeps. The only loss for the Scots was no fluke as they dropped a close 3-2 match to the now 12-1 Shepherd University Rams in mid-September.

While the Scots are a formidable opponent, IUP may have the chemistry built that it needs to take on such a team. The Hawks sit at a winning record of 9-8 as they cross the halfway point in the season but are 0-2 in conference play.

IUP will be looking to ride the momentum it has from a convincing defeat of a struggling Salem team, who the Hawks swept earlier in the week 3-0, and the first two sets were not even close. The final scores of the sets were 25-8, 25-5 and 25-21.

Coach Julie Torbett used this mismatch in talent to get some

bench players in the rotation.

“We won the first two sets in 30 minutes, so I played players that typically do not get a chance to play as much altogether in the third set,” Torbett said.

This is a very common practice among any coach worth their salt.

“Salem also changed their setter and had better success with that lineup. We have been on the receiving end of those types of matches as well and it is important to finish teams off and not let up,” Torbett added.

The Hawks look to gain their first conference win as they travel to Edinboro. Conference games are of the utmost importance for any team looking to make a playoff appearance. In the Western Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Edinboro sits atop the mountain.

“Conference is what it is all about, and we have a tough

division. We should always be playing for post-season and have that mentality,” Torbett said. “I think it will be very tight in the West Division down the stretch so the pressure might come later, but right now we are just focused on getting better every day.”

Getting better every day is all about consistency, and that is something Torbett has preached since the moment she first initiated contact with the team.

“We are not very consistent with the exception of a few players, so I am not sure what is causing the up and down performance, but it seems to be contagious,” Torbett said. “If one player is off, it throws them all off and we need to overcome that.”

That does not mean the rollercoaster of production is all bad.

“However, we have a variety of options that may make it hard for the opponent to know exactly what we are going to do because of the inconsistency,” Torbett said.

Although the team may need to be more consistent down the home stretch of the season, one player that has been consistent is outside hitter Nicole Peterson (junior, sports administration).

Peterson has amassed more kills than the rest of the entire team combined, but volleyball is a team sport, and Torbett believes that statistic is fed by errant passing, not “feeding” Peterson the ball.

“Nicole was the leading scorer in 2019 as a freshman and has

[been] working to get better. I think she is a threat when we go out on the court, but we also have some other players who can […] put the ball away but just need to get set more,” Torbett said. “This comes from better passing. The outside hitters get a lot of sets that need cleaned up in the play.”

There may not be much room for depth players to make too many appearances as IUP travels to Edinboro this Friday. The game starts at 7 p.m.

(IUP Athletics) The match against Salem is expected to be the only one played in the Memorial Field House this season.

22

October 1, 2021

Sports

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Sports

October 1, 2021

23

Soccer wins nail-biter against Seton Hill

Thoericht scores winning goal AUSTIN SMITH Staff Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

(IUP Athletics) Seton Hill has come up short in three of its last four matches, defeating Mercyhurst 1-1 and drawing with Clarion 1-1 over a five-day span.

Late heroics for the women’s soccer team was the theme against the Seton Hill Griffins in Greensburg, Pa., on Wednesday night. The Crimson Hawks were in a tight matchup for the majority of the game until late into the second half.

There was a good number of shots throughout the game but only one made it into the net, which is what led the Hawks to a clutch victory.

Chole Thoericht (sophomore, exercise science) got the first and only goal for the Hawks in minute 79 of the game. Thoericht’s goal was assisted by Hannah Scardina (sophomore, pre-physical therapy). “[It was a] nice shot from Hannah Scardina and the bounce back from their goal keeper. Chole Thoericht finished the shot and scored,” head coach Adel Heder said.

Throughout the game, the Hawks had attempted 15 shots but only got five on goal while Seton Hill had 11 shots on goal.

One of the biggest players in the game besides Thoericht was Samantha Gildner (junior, athletic training). Gildner was able keep Seton Hill off the board from the beginning of the game. She made 11 saves in total throughout the game and had some key crucial saves in the second half to keep the game scoreless for the Griffins.

This was the third shutout of the season for Gildner. This shutout puts Gildner in the lead in the entire Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) for save percentage (.896), saves per game

(8.57) and shutouts.

A couple of notable performances in the game were Kristen Finnerty (sophomore, interior design) and Samantha Nemeth (sophomore, nursing).

On offense, Finnerty managed to produce two shots. Nemeth had three shots and one shot on goal. Scardina led the entire team in the game with eight shots and three shots on goal.

With the game being so close, a lot of players contributing to the team was a good sign for the Hawks, especially the younger players. “[It] was a good win, and when you play away and [in] a conference game, it’s always good to win,” Heder said.

The Hawks improved to an overall record of 4-2-1 in the PSAC West which puts them at fourth place.

The next game for IUP will be against 4-3-1 Mercyhurst and will be on the road. The Lakers are coming off a strong 4-0 shutout against Clarion on Wednesday and will be looking to carry some of that energy into this matchup.

These two programs have been fairly even when it comes to their matchup history as IUP holds a slight 5-4-2 advantage over Mercyhurst. The last time these two teams played each other in 2019, the Lakers took a dominant 5-0 victory over the Hawks.

IUP will look to have a different outcome this time around. The Hawks have yet to lose a regulation game on the road this season as they hold a 2-0-1 record.

The Crimson Hawks will look to continue this streak and take home a win against a tough Lakers squad on Saturday in Erie at 4 p.m..

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October 1, 2021

Sports

Field hockey edges out The Rock in late-night thriller

(Contributed by IUP Photography Club) Blaise Cugini and Georgiana Chiavacci lead the team with 15 goals scored each.

By IUP Sports Information Goals by Shelby Harnish (sophomore, criminology) and Georgiana Chiavacci (graduate student, human resources) helped lift the IUP field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Slippery Rock under the lights at Miller Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Crimson Hawks got back in the win column to improve to 6-1 overall and 1-1 mark in the Pennsylvania Sports Athletic Conference (PSAC) while Slippery Rock fell to 3-5 and 0-2.

After scoring five goals against The Rock 10 days ago in their first meeting of the season, the Crimson Hawks fell into a defensive battle Wednesday night as both teams combined for 11 shots.

Harnish scored the game's first goal with 39 seconds left in the first quarter, redirecting a high lob shot from Blaise Cugini (junior, early childhood education) in the top right corner of the cage. Chiavacci broke a 1-1 tie early in the second half, firing a rocket to the top right corner of the cage

to put the Hawks back on top.

IUP did have seven penalty corners in the final corner but were unable to add any insurance goals.

With 10 seconds left, Slippery Rock was on a breakaway and had a chance to tie, but IUP goalie Amanda Zaner (junior, political science and international studies) exited the cage and cleared the ball before a Rock player was able to get off a shot.

Up next the Crimson Hawks have their second straight Saturday road match against a ranked opponent this weekend when they face No. 2 West Chester at 10 a.m.

(Contributed by IUP Photography Club) The IUP field hockey team has a strong case for being nationally ranked now that it sits at a 6-1 record.

IUP golf finishes seventh out of 16 in Stonewall Invitational

By IUP Sports Information The IUP men’s golf team wrapped up play at the Stonewall Invitational with a seventh place team finish Tuesday afternoon.

The Crimson Hawks finished the 36-hole tournament with a 47-over 623 at the Stonewall Resort Palmer Course. Host Davis & Elkins had the top two finishing teams in the tournament, with the winning squad shooting a 14-over 590. D&E’s “B” team shot a 24-over 600 to finish

second while West Chester was third with a 25-over 601.

The Crimson Hawks put together a better second round, improving by 21 strokes from day one to shoot a 13-over 301. Nicholas Ward (senior, marketing) had the biggest jump of an IUP golfer with a two-over 74 on Tuesday. He jumped up the leaderboard 18 strokes to finish in a tie for 20th with a 10-over 154.

Jack Buccigross (senior, marketing) was IUP’s second finisher in a tie for 31st with a 12-over 156.

Isaiah Swan (freshman, finance)

shot seven strokes better with a three-over 75, moving up 13 spots to finish in a tie for 37th overall with a 13-over 157. Richie Kline (junior, finance and economics) finished in a tie for 49th with a 16over 160 while Shaun Fedor (junior, marketing) was forced to withdraw in the second round. Playing as an individual, Colin Walsh (redshirt junior, athletic training) finished in a tie for 55th with a 19-over 163.

Up next IUP has Clarion’s Hal Hansen Invitational on the schedule next Sunday and Monday at the Grove City Country Club. It will be the final tournament to prepare for the 2021 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships Oct. 15-17 in Hershey, Pa.

(IUP Athletics) The last time the Hawks played a tournament hosted by Davis and Elkins, they placed first out of 12 in 2019.