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IUP Homecoming Parade Reactions

Event returns to in-person format this year KELLY BLANKENBICKER Staff Writer svcy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP has several homecoming traditions that are celebrated each year, but, last year, COVID-19 caused these traditions to be put on pause.

One of these traditions is the annual Homecoming parade. The parade returned to the street of Indiana this year.

“Coming back to Indiana and seeing the Homecoming parade felt natural to me,” Ashlyn Catto, an IUP graduate, said. “It was awesome to finally be back to the older traditions that IUP has always had.

“The atmosphere was a lot of fun with the IUP and Indiana communities coming together to celebrate the first Homecoming back.”

A lot of people came out to support various clubs that were

highlighted in the parade, and the sense of community and camaraderie was palpable.

The Homecoming parade held on Saturday at 10 a.m. incorporated the theme of the decades, including the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s. Every year, Greek life organizations work together to build floats for the parade, and a winner is selected by a panel of judges.

The placements for the floats were the following: first place for the ‘70s float by Sigma Chi, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Delta Phi Epsilon and Theta Phi Alpha; second place for the ‘90s float by Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Theta Chi, Phi Mu Delta and Alpha Xi Delta; third place for the ‘60s float by Zeta Tau Alpha, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Sigma Tau, Phi Sigma Kappa and Kappa Delta Rho; and fourth place for the ‘80s float by Alpha Gamma Delta, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Pi and Alpha Sigma Alpha.

The first place team was award-

ed $1,000 from the Alumni Association, the second place team won $900 from Aramark, the third place team won $800 from the Student Government Association and the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement, and the fourth place team won $700 from University Advancement.

Students expressed excitement about the parade returning to an in-person format this year.

“I was excited to see the parade this year especially,” Mason McGurrin (junior, psychology) said.

“It was the first time I truly took part in the Homecoming parade in some type of way, and I loved seeing how the floats Greek life built for Homecoming came together.

“I thought it was such a cool idea to make a float to all the different decades. My favorite float was the ‘70s themed one.”

Members of the Crimson Court also participated in the parade.

The Crimson Court consists of students chosen by a university

(YouTube/WCCS) Video coverage of IUP’s 2021 Homecoming Parade can be viewed on WCCS Radio’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w5m1050szI.

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October 5, 2021

vote to represent each of the colleges at IUP. To qualify for the Crimson Court, students must meet the requirements of having a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average and be in good standing with the university.

IUP’s 2021 Crimson Court are the following: Mac Mead (senior, communications media marketing) for the College of Education and Communications, ; Kaylee Long (junior, social studies education) for the College of Arts and Humanities; Makenzie Fello (senior, secondary math education) for John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Jayden Thomas (junior, marketing) for the Eberly College of Business; Anastasia Ksenia Benc (junior, psychology) for the College of Health and Human Services; Katarina Noll (senior, criminology, psychology) for the College of Arts and Humanities; and Ashley Yanni (sophomore exploratory) for the University College.

“Being a part of the Crimson Court and participating in the parade was one of the best experiences I have ever had,” Jayden Thomas (junior, marketing) said.

“Being able to see all the community gather in one place and celebrate again after a long period of COVID-19 precautions, everything went great, and it’s something I’ll always remember.

“Aside from that, I’m grateful for the fact I could be a representative on the homecoming court not just for my college (Eberly), but [to] represent the university and student body as a whole.”

The parade featured more than 75 campus and community groups.

Some of these groups were the IUP Homer Center, Purchase Line, Indiana, Marion Center, Penns Manor United and River Valley marching bands.

“Everyone who took part in

the parade did such a great job,” Macey Ebersole (junior, speech pathology) said. “My favorite part was watching and listening to the bands.

“It was great to see Philadelphia Street packed with people. I loved the school spirit the parade brought, especially [with] not being [able] to have one last year.”

Students enjoyed seeing the liveliness in the community as a result of the parade.

“I loved the energy the parade had. It was so refreshing to see everyone smiling and genuinely happy to be there,” Sydney Starbird (senior, human development and family relations) said.

“It was exciting to be in that type of environment again.”

For many students and community members, coming to the parade is a long-standing personal tradition.

“I have family who are alumni of IUP, so I have been coming to the parade since I was a child,” Ellie Ewing (junior, communications media and marketing) said.

“So, it makes me so happy to have the parade back in full effect.”

Some students said that the experience is a positive way for the community to bond with one another.

“My favorite thing about the parade is [that it is] for people of all ages, ranging from children with their family to grandparents,” Abby Williams (junior, respiratory care) said.

“It is just such a great way to bring together the past, current and future IUP community and Indiana community.”

The route for the parade started at 11th and Philadelphia Street, traveled east to 6th Street and Church Street, continued to move west on Church Street to Oakland Avenue, and southwest on Oakland Avenue to 11th Street where the parade ended.

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October 5, 2021

News

IUP Homecoming Parade 2021

(Chase Fulmer/The Penn) Many students have been looking forward to the return of Homecoming festivities in an in-person format on IUP’s campus. The annual festivities were interrupted last year by the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade brought out people of all ages who wanted to take in the event. It also provided the community with a sense of normalcy that many have not felt since the onset of the pandemic. Across the country, many homecoming celebrations like IUP’s took place late last week and into the weekend. Many of these events were also returning to an in-person format after being canceled last year. Homecoming is a tradition in which former students are welcomed back to former colleges and universities as IUP did with its alumni through a variety of alumni events throughout the weekend. The annual event has been celebrated by many schools in the nation since the 19th century. It is generally a time of community camaraderie and togetherness. Shortly after the Homecoming parade, IUP football played Gannon and defeated the team by a score of 28-23. Other Homecoming events over the weekend included the pregame Crimson Huddle, which was held for alumni in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex before the football game, and the Homecoming wind ensemble concert, which featured musicians from IUP’s music department. Students at IUP are already looking forward to the 2022 Homecoming festivities.

News

October 5, 2021

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One woman’s story of survival MOLLY CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer kydy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP WARNING: This article discusses sensitive topics such as sexual assault and domestic violence.

A former college student wished to tell her story about being a survivor with the hope that it may help others in a similar situation.

This woman lived a normal life in a small town, but when she came to college, everything changed.

One of her friends dated a star football player which made her friends with him as well. This man felt like a big brother to her, and she thought she could trust him.

Hanging out in his apartment throughout the week was common, whether it was just the two of them or others were present as well.

At the time football season was at hand, she was at his apartment with other girls and his roommate(s). On the table, she recalled there was a drink that she could not identify or if it was even alcoholic.

“Something felt off that night.

I just remember feeling really out of place for some reason - maybe just my gut trying to tell me something, or what I didn’t recognize yet as the Holy Spirit - and that’s where my memory begins to escape me,” she said.

She woke up confused in a bedroom that she assumed was his, and she saw him sitting at the head of the bed in a chair beside her.

“I remember feeling this enormous weight on me, but there was nothing there. I looked to him for an explanation and for help,” she said.

As she was processing what was happening, she realized that there were other men in the room waiting to take their turns raping her. She was taken advantage of

from someone that was a brother figure to her and her “protector.”

She was stuck with seeing him around campus and on the streets.

She received threatening calls telling her to “keep quiet or [she] would be sorry.” The men were also following her everywhere she went.

She left campus and later found out that she was pregnant. At this point, she said she felt ashamed to tell her family what had happened to her, and instead of telling the truth (dvifallon.org) she claimed that If you or someone close to you has been the victim of sexual violence or domestic abuse, there is help available. school was not working out for her. Hotlines through https://www.thehotline.org/and https://www.rainn.org/ are available 24/7/365.

The true story shining armor.” point. Seventeen stitches later and have the strength to use it. The was kept hidden When she became pregnant I was on my way home. To him,” organization provides them with a from her family because she was and told her new partner the she said. safe space to begin that journey not ready to talk about it. She was news, he explained to her that he Seventeen years into their back to health both physically and 18 years old carrying a baby. was not ready to be a father and marriage, she was diagnosed with spiritually.

After the birth of her son, she handed her $200 for an abortion late-stage cancer and told that Sharing her story is important so said she had a better underwhich she took, knowing it would she had one year to live.

She is still that other survivors know that they standing of her relationship with be used for diapers. here six years later by “the grace are not alone. IUP has many reGod, and she was starting to date Once she gave birth to their of God.” She survived with her sources available to students. The again. She met a man who her daughter and he received a letter children and even thrived after all Haven Project supports victims friends, family and even his from a domestic relations office of those years of abuse. and survivors by providing confifamily were warning her informing him that he was a new She and her husband began to dential counseling and information about. father, he heal their on resources, accommodations “I didn’t know changed relationship and reporting options. how I was gohis mind spirituThe woman who shared this ing to get out and really and story appreciated the efforts that of this thing turned to physically IUP is doing to prevent these situaalive,” she raise the during her tions. As a survivor, she said that said. child. battle with the curiosity and judgment needs Behind The two cancer. She to be put away whenever someclosed got marand her one is trying to tell their story. For doors, he ried and children years, she has tried to see where was violently had two believe she had “gone wrong” and finally beating her more children together. that God has gotten them through realized that her story needed to just as he did There were moments of physical their journey and is now allowing be told. in public settings, violence, but she said it consisted them to appreciate who they are.

“I was covered by my grandand she said that she more of mental abuse. For exam“Find somebody that you mother’s prayers, and I believe had never experienced ple, she was not allowed to go to feel safe with to share your story those prayers still cover me violence this way before. the church or he would leave her. because it can make or break today,” she said.

She became pregnant but He was a teacher in a small town everything that happens next. I IUP does not stand with sexual lost the child due to his physical and their family depended on his waited to share my story and the violence, but the university does abuse. She was able to get away income. first reaction I received was: ‘Are stand with you. If you or somefrom her abuser and move back “A blow to my head with his you sure?’” she said. one you know needs to report an to her parents’ home with her son. hand ended with me in the emerFrom her experience, she has incident, please visit the Social She then found someone who gency room explaining my way made an organization that allows Equity and Title IX Office or email she thought to be her “knight in out of it. I was well trained by this people to find their voice and title-ix@iup.edu.

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October 5, 2021

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October 5, 2021

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Wind Ensemble Homecoming Concert Students perform music by Holst, Bernstein, Nagao, Su Koh JULIA ROBINS Staff Writer spxbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The annual Homecoming Wind Ensemble concert, directed by Timothy Paul, was held in Fisher Auditorium on Sunday.

"We're glad to finally be able to perform as a full ensemble and present our performance to a live audience. For a good number of students, this will be their first college wind ensemble experience for a live audience," Paul said.

The program featured covers of “’First Suite in Eb for Military Band’, Op. 28, No. 1 (Gustav Holst); ‘West Side Story Selections’ (Leonard Bernstein); ‘The EARTH’ (Jun Nagao); and ‘Cherry Blossom Brilliance’ (Chang Su Koh),” according to IUP news.

“It is real, and we are live. This is our Homecoming concert, and we can have people sitting in an audience getting to hear a live concert.

I’m going to clap for that. So, we are glad you are here for that, and our music represents the same thing this afternoon,” Paul said.

Graduate students Ken Maski and Lexi Bixler conducted the Holst and Bernstein pieces.

The first piece performed was “First Suite in Eb for Military Band” by Holst and conducted by Maski.

According to Crimson Connect’s description of the concert, “It's a time when old friends reconnect and remember what makes what we do special. This afternoon's concert will be a celebration of the music we consider to be good friends while embracing the opportunity to create lasting friendships of a lifetime.”

This theme fits with the inclusion of the “West Side Story Collection.” The musical was inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and given a modern setting of 1957 New York City. The story follows the tension between rival gangs of the Sharks and the Jets as it greatly escalates when Tony of the Jets falls in love with Maria of the Sharks. It won three Golden Globe Awards and taught respect, overcoming racial prejudice, conflict and fear.

The music from “West Side Story” was composed by Bernstein and conducted on Sunday by Bixler.

Next up was “The EARTH” conducted by Nagao.

“The hope in doing this piece is that it could help bring peace to Earth,” Paul said.

The last song performed was “Cherry Blossom Brilliance” from 2017 by Su Koh, which could have a theme of friendship, beauty and respecting nature. It was written in honor of the 90th anniversary of Nishinomiya City in Japan.

The program stated “’Cherry Blossom Brilliance’ is a delightful and festive piece written with rhythmic triplets. The work features brilliant brass sections, resonating chimes and contrasting emotional interludes. The ephemeral lives of cherry blossoms are expressed with a compelling melody.”

Paul directed this last piece as well.

“You cannot go wrong with cherry blossom [brilliance],” Paul said. “When I was at Midwest, which was two years ago, and I heard the premiere of this, [I knew it] was for this ensemble.

“So, it is my old friend from two years ago, our new friend right now and hopefully it will be a piece that is around for a long time.”

Student and parent reactions were overall positive.

“The concert this afternoon was terrific. It is great to finally be able to witness these events in person.

The students' performances were excellent. We look forward to many more of these in the future,” Paul Hayhurst said.

His daughter, Cynthia Hayhurst (junior, music education), played the flute in the performance.

“I thought the concert went very well,” Donovan Jack (sophomore, music), a clarinet player, said.

“I’m extremely happy with how it turned out, especially with how much hard work we’ve put into it.

It’s come a long way from the first time we played the music.”

The performance was recorded and posted on YouTube. You can watch it at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=UAifslhxCns.

(Julia Robins/The Penn) Lexi Bixler is a graduate student in the music department at IUP. On Sunday, Bixler conducted the wind ensemble during its rendition of the music for “West Side Story” as composed by Leonard Bernstein.

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October 5, 2021

News

Senators, Facebook executive spar over ‘finsta’ Legislators fail to understand technology D.C. Politics CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP My name is Caio and I am a political science major covering D.C. politics.

“Will you (Facebook team) commit to ending ‘finsta’?” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said while questioning Facebook’s

global head of security, Antigone Davis, last Thursday.

This was one of the several questions asked by the Senate’s consumer protection subcommittee on Thursday’s hearing.

During the hearing, members of both parties accused Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, of ignoring the effects Instagram has on the mental health of teenagers in order to increase their profit margins.

The existence of “finstas” was pointed out by the committee as evidence of how Instagram downplays the safety of minors to increase profit.

A “finsta” is a slang term for a fake Instagram account. It is not fake in the sense of being a “bot”

(commons.wikimedia.org) Richard Blumenthal (above) has been a U.S. senator since 2011.

He previously served as Connecticut’s attorney general.

or a person impersonating another, but rather fake in the sense of being a person’s private account, shared with only close friends, as opposed to being a person’s “official” account. “Finsta” accounts are usually limited to the user’s close friends, a group that may not include their parents or other family members.

Members of Congress believe that by “providing ‘finstas’” to teenagers, Facebook jeopardizes the safety of teens on the Internet as “finstas” limit parental control over what their kids are doing.

Additionally, the committee claimed that Facebook not only provides “finsta” as a service, but it encourages teens to create this type of account.

“They are actually devising marketing plans to help kids and teens create secondary (Antigone Davis/Twitter) or anonymous accounts that Antigone Davis (above) serves as the global head of safety at Facethey can hide from their book, a position that she has held since 2014. parents,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said. ing once more that “finsta” was ed about enough: our current That is when Blumenthal’s one of Facebook’s “products or leaders have regulatory power questions came into play. After services.” Davis began to rebut over technology and have literaccusing Facebook of taking adand reaffirm that “finsta” was a ally no clue how that technology vantage of young people’s secret slang for a certain type works,” Logan Hall, accounts as a way to increase user of account but a commentator activity without signing up new was interrupted for the Daily people, Blumenthal asked Davis

by Blumenthal Caller, said on if the company would commit to asking her Twitter. “ending ‘finsta.’” once more BlumenThe question was followed if Facebook thal took by silence from the Facebook could “comthe criticism representative who was initially mit to ending lightheartshocked at the question. The New ‘finsta.’” edly and York Times credited the shock The backresponded to the seemingly lack of knowland-forth to it by edge by the senators over what a between tweeting a “finsta” is and argued “one can Blumenthal viral GIF of no more ‘end’ finsta than ‘Hot Girl and Davis has actor Steve Summer’ or ‘Taco Tuesday.’” gotten immediBuscemi dressed “Senator, again, let me explain: ate media attention youthfully and holdwe don’t actually do ‘finsta,’” Daand went viral on social media. ing a skateboard while asking a vis said after a moment of silence. Responses were mostly unfriendly group of teens, “How do you do, “What ‘finsta’ refers to is young towards Blumenthal, with many fellow kids?” people setting up accounts where believing it is ill-advised to have Humor aside, those who have a they may want to have more people who are not so tech “finsta” account and are worried privacy.” friendly running the nation’s comabout losing their accounts may mittee that regulates technology. rest peacefully – Facebook did After her response, Blumenthal “Something that’s not talknot commit to ending “finsta.” continued his argument, claim-

Opinion

Change can be a good thing If your major is not a good fit, make a change

Change can be scary sometimes, but it can always lead to good things.

Changing your major may seem intimidating at first, but if you are currently unhappy in your major then you might want to change it.

You should definitely consider changing it, too, if you know you are more passionate about another subject.

This feeling is something that so many college students encounter. It is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about either. Uncertainty is natural.

A lot of undergraduate students and even graduate students do change their majors.

A research project by the U.S. Department of Education (Data Point) said that one third of undergraduates change their majors within their first three years of enrollment at their university.

It also said that one out of every 10 students that did change their major once actually changed it two or more times later on.

With that being said, do not feel obligated to stay in a major

because that is what you originally thought you wanted to do, and do not stay in a certain major because that is what people expect you to do.

Even if you are only a few classes away from finishing your majors, that does not mean that you need to stick with it.

It is important to do what is best for you and your future.

You are not going to be happy spending thousands of dollars getting a degree that you do not like. You will not enjoy your future career and will probably spend a lot of time thinking about how you wished you changed your field of study.

Seize the opportunity while you are still at IUP to figure out what you want to do. It is okay if you still are not sure yet either. The good thing about this situation is that you figured out what you do not like to do. Try to

get involved with clubs that align with your interests and go from there.

Even talk to your professors and advisor. They can help you figure out your likes and dislikes and might be able to point you in the right direction. There are so many available resources at IUP if you need help figuring out the next steps or the right path.

There are also resources online like https://www.onetonline. org/ and other career interest and information websites.

Another piece of advice if you are considering a change in major is to look at the IUP class catalog. You might be able to find some classes you are interested in and figure out what major they correlate to.

The opportunities to explore and discover your major are endless. Do not wait too long to make a decision, though. If you know you need or want to change your major, then do it.

Make the decision that prioritizes your wants and needs.

Change is a good thing. It might be scary at first, but there are plenty of resources at IUP and online to help you overcome any obstacles that you might face.

Brought to you By The Penn Editorial Staff

(The Penn Archives/IUP) There are a lot of different majors to try out at IUP. No matter what your interests are, there is very likely a path for you here.

Opinion

October 5, 2021

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Culture IUP hosts late-night party at KCAC Culture Editor: Lane Lannan – ffpcc@iup.edu

Lead Culture Writer: Caio Gomes – hysbc@iup.edu

Features games, karaoke for students

(IUP) The weekend saw a lot of events like football and a parade for Homecoming.

LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP On Saturday, students were given the chance to unwind and have a fun time.

IUP hosted a late-night party at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) as part of the Homecoming weekend of events.

In conjunction with the event being held to celebrate the Homecoming weekend, it also offered students the ability to relax after a period of exam preparation for classes.

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“I honestly did not have a ton of interest in the actual events that were going on,” Gabrielle Probst (sophomore, early childhood education) said. “It was nice to get out with friends and see a lot of people having a good time. It feels like that has not been seen for a while.”

Probst went on to say that she liked the atmosphere that was in the KCAC and hopes that similar events can happen in the future as she thinks it is a good way for students to take a break from classes.

While there were some students like Probst that went just to experience the atmosphere, there were others that attended specifically to see what kind of activities the event

had to offer.

“I participated in a pretty fun Nerf battle,” Thomas Valcukas (sophomore, biology) said. “It was a very enjoyable time. We could hear the karaoke from where we were as well, which was pretty cool.”

Valcukas continued that, while he only participated in the Nerf battle, he still had a great night. He said that he enjoyed getting to spend time outside of class and the dorm, looking forward to experiencing more of campus life.

Despite the lively atmosphere that was filling the KCAC for the party, there were some students that were not interested in it at all.

“Honestly, I just did not want to risk going,” Riley Hays (sophomore,

October 5, 2021

software engineering) said. “I opted to travel for the weekend instead.

I really did not want to have to quarantine in the event that someone at the party spread COVID-19 around.”

Hays is in another group of students that were concerned about the possibility of everyone in attendance getting sick because someone entered the KCAC and spread germs. Seeing as the world is still entrenched in a pandemic, that concern is one to consider. A lot of students can not afford to miss a minimum of 10 days in their classes without getting behind, so there seems to be little reason to take the risk.

Even IUP President Michael

Driscoll got involved in the safety messages for students.

“Stay safe, wear your masks, wash your hands and take care of one another,” Driscoll said in an IUP update video. “Let’s go, Hawks.”

Whether you attended the party or made the most of the weekend in another way, the coming week will be challenging. Midterms for many students are taking place throughout the week, and the necessary study time needs to be taken into account.

No matter what your schedule for the past weekend looked like or what your exam schedule looks like, The Penn wishes you luck with your classes as well as a safe rest of the semester.

Culture

Culture

October 5, 2021

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Rapper makes a big splash with announcement Lil Yachty plans to study at IUP next semester

The Crimson Hoax EVA TILLICH Managing Editor jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The Crimson Hoax is a weekly column detailing satirical stories from the IUP community.

After his tremendous success last week, Lil Yachty plans to come back to IUP, this time as a student.

On Thursday, Lil Yachty was the headliner for the Student Activity Committee’s (STATIC) Homecoming concert. He was greeted by a large crowd of excited students at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) where his show was held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The performer is best known for his songs “Yacht Club,” “Oprah’s Bank Account” and “Gucci Flip Flops.” He will now be known as a Crimson Hawk.

“I just really liked the school’s vibes and thought I should go here,” Lil Yachty said. “I mean, why not?”

He plans on studying geology during the spring 2022 semester.

“Rocks are cool, and I just want to learn about them. The world is made of rocks. I’m just trying to connect to the Earth on a deeper level. You know the vibes,” Yachty said.

Lil Yachty’s announcement was met with shock. Many students were confused as to why a rapper would want to study geology and believed it seemed a bit unusual, especially considering how much money the artist already makes as a rapper.

“I don’t mean any disrespect towards the rock industry, but rap is the number one genre right now,” Matt Smith (junior, Earth and space science education) said. “Why would someone pause a career in the biggest music genre just to study rocks? Not even my grandparents listen to rock anymore.”

Some students claim that they are excited about having a celeb-

rity on campus. Some believe that it might bring prestige to both the school and the student body.

“My girlfriend and I were at the concert, and we had a lot of fun,” Joseph Brown (senior, political science) said. “It’s crazy to think that my favorite rapper might be sitting next to me in one of my classes.”

On the other hand, other students fear that having a celebrity on campus may be problematic.

Amelia Pond (sophomore, criminology) said she fears that if Lil Yachty runs for the Student Government Association (SGA) or any other elected position, such as president of the Residence Hall Council (RHC) or the Crimson Court, people would vote for him just because he is famous.

“I just don’t want people voting out of popularity,” Pond said. “This is so high schoolish; in college, people should vote for the most competent person.”

Pond has also questioned whether professors would treat Lil Yachty any differently just because he is famous and believes that some professors would give him undeserved good grades out of fear of public retaliation. She claims that Lil Yachty has enough followers to harass a professor into giving him an A. However, Lil Yachty said he wants to be treated as a regular student while studying at IUP. “I’m just one of the Hawks,” Lil Yachty said. “I don’t want anyone to treat me differently because I’m famous. I’ll still sign autographs but I’m here to learn and get a solid education. Just call me Lil Boat when I’m at school.”

(Lil Yachty/Instagram) Lil Yachty made a stop at the HUB prior to his concert to start blending into student life.

(IUP) There are organizations on campus, like the IUP Geology Society, that are perfect for students looking at the geology field.

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October 5, 2021

Culture

(Nintendo) The final character will be announced by “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” director Masahiro Sakurai.

Students share thoughts on upcoming Nintendo reveal LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Today is shaping up to be a big day for the fighting game community.

In a recent video presentation for upcoming games, Nintendo answered the question on a lot of people’s minds: when will the next character for “Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate” be released?

The anticipation amongst fans of the game has been extreme.

The upcoming character is slated to be the final downloadable content (DLC) fighter added to the game. With that tension palpable, there are a lot of different possibilities that people are speculating.

“I really want to see Master Chief make his way over,” Isaac Ryer (sophomore, nursing) said. “I mean, ‘Halo’ is such a big game franchise that I think it makes sense to be added.”

Ryer went on to say that he would enjoy seeing a new game style represented in “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” As it currently stands, there is no representation for the first-person shooter (FPS) genre in the main game.

The main DLC roster consists of Joker from “Persona 5,” Hero

from the “Dragon Quest” series, Banjo and Kazooie from “Banjo-Kazooie,” Terry from the “Fatal Fury” series, and Byleth from “Fire Emblem: Three Houses” in the first collection of DLC characters. The second DLC pack brought along Min-Min from “Arms,” Steve and Alex from “Minecraft,” Sephiroth from “Final Fantasy VII,” Pyra and Mythra from “Xenoblade Chronicles 2,” and Kazuya from the “Tekken” series.

With so many different games already being represented by these characters, there is a want from fans for Nintendo to branch out and include indie games like the massively popular “Hades,” which has garnered a lot of praise from critics and fans alike.

“I think that seeing a character like Hollow Knight [from ‘Hollow Knight’] would be really cool,” Joseph Semetkoskey (sophomore, accounting) said. “I have never really sat down and played the game, but I know it has a large following of people that want him to get in.”

Hollow Knight is just one of many characters that have a large following.

Other characters include the Doom Slayer from the “Doom” franchise, Crash Bandicoot, Sora from “King-

dom Hearts,” as well as more first-party Nintendo characters.

While fans have previously tried to influence the next character in the game with an entire campaign to get Nintendo’s Waluigi as a playable character, they often have no influence over the decision of Nintendo and “Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate” director Mr. Masahiro Sakurai.

“The new fighter may be a character you do not know,” Sakurai said in a Twitter post on Monday, “Even if you do not play ‘Smash Bros.,’ if you are interested in the game, please watch it.”

This tweet from Sakurai has led to many fans reigniting their speculation. Fans in the west suspected Sakurai is hinting that the next character may be foreign to the Japanese gaming audience.

This would be a new change since the characters added primarily reflect the interests of the Japanese gaming scene as seen with “Dragon Quest,” an immensely popular series in Japan.

Whether the next character is a classic gaming icon that everyone loves or a more obscure representative from an indie game, the news

will drop at 10 a.m. today, so be sure to head over to Nintendo’s

YouTube channel to catch the livestreamed event.

(Nintendo) The fighter pass packs were started in January of 2018 to add additional content to the game.

Culture

October 5, 2021

The Penn’s Student Tattoo Profile

Anna Weinstein (junior, sociology) Who did your tattoo?

“I do not recall the name or shop, but I know I got it done in Texas over winter break of my freshman year of college,” Weinstein said. “I went to many shops and talked to many artists until I felt comfortable with one of them and decided to do it there.”

Did it hurt?

“Yes, it definitely hurt,” Weinstein said. “I would say the pain radiates, so by the time he got done it felt a lot bigger than it actually was.”

What were the reactions to the tattoo?

“[The] reactions are usually positive but there has been some negative ones,” Weinstein said.

“In the end, it is on my body and if I like it, I do not really care what someone else says.”

What is the meaning?

Student Tattoo ProFile EVA TILLICH Managing Editor jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP My name is Eva Tillich and I will highlight the tattoos that IUP students get. As of right now I have three tattoos.

“My grandma has this flower in her backyard,” Weinstein said. “It is ixora coccinea, and the words underneath are nicknames that my grandparents have. I used to live in Brazil, and I really missed living across the street from my grandparents, so I wanted to have something to carry around with me that represented and reminded me of them.”

Why did you get it?

“I just wanted a tattoo,” Weinstein said.

When did you get it?

“[I got it the] first week of January 2020,” Weinstein said.

How long have you wanted this for and how long did you wait before you got it?

“I decided I wanted it in the summer of 2018, but I waited until I could sign for it myself so that, in case I regretted it, I would take full responsibility of that decision,” Weinstein said. “I also did wait almost a year after I turned 18 because I wanted my mom to be there with me and that is just how our schedules aligned and how it worked out.”

Advice to anyone thinking of getting a tattoo?

(Anna Weinstein) Weinstein got the tattoo to represent her connection to her grandparents.

“Remember that it is permanent and that it most likely will not look the same forever,” Weinstein said.

“Do not let other people influence what you want or where you want it, it is your body, and you need to be the one to be happy with it. Also do your research to select a safe shop and an artist that you like his style and previous work.”

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Culture

‘It’s a very, very mad world’ ‘Squid Game’ proves popular among students LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Netflix is in the business of making shows that are hits across the country. The company has done that yet again.

A new show recently appeared on the streaming service, and it has garnered massive popularity, even breaking into the number one spot on Netflix’s “Top in the U.S. Today” list. The show in question is called “Squid Game.”

According to the Netflix description, the show follows “hundreds of cash-strapped players [as they] accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits, with deadly high stakes.”

With that rather ominous description and the labeling of the show as suspenseful, you have a very appealing series for a lot of people.

“I am going to be honest: when I first heard the name of the show, I was not too terribly interested in it,” Olivia Wanat (sophomore, history) said. “It seemed like an odd name for a show that was supposedly really good.”

Wanat went on to say that, despite her initial feelings about the title, she ended up really enjoying the show. She had many favorite parts that she did not want to reveal as to prevent spoiling the show for those that have not had the time to watch it all yet.

The series follows main character Seong Gi-hun, who is part of the debt-ridden group mentioned in the show’s description.

While the show is completely in Korean, that does not take away from the enjoyment. Those wor-

ried about the subtitles affecting the reach of the show’s audience should note that the show has English overdubs; however, there is an example of a film that was very successful with only subtitles.

“When I first saw the way the show was filmed and presented, it reminded me a lot of ‘Parasite,’” Gabrielle Allison (sophomore, anthropology) said. “I really liked that movie, so it was cool to see something become so popular that reminded me of it.”

Allison continued that, like Wanat, she found the show to be very intriguing and depressing in a lot of different ways. Overall, she said she recommends the series to anyone who is interested as well as those who are not as keen on the prospect of the show. As stated by Allison, it is a show that should be experienced by everyone.

The show has done more than just capture the minds of Netflix users. It has also gotten attention of larger media outlets.

“It is a window into how human beings treat each other and what we will do to succeed or, in this case, what we will do to survive,” Bethonie Butler, a reporter at the Washington Post, said.

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of the project, also had some words to share about the filming process for the drama.

“I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society,” Hwang said in an interview with Variety. “Something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life.”

Be sure to head over to Netflix when you can and stream “Squid Game.” It is an interesting series that deserves the attention it has received.

(Netflix) The series came to Netflix on Sept. 17 and garnered a lot of praise, especially in the recent weeks on social media.

(Netflix) Director for “Squid Game” Hwang Dong-hyuk (pictured above) originally wrote the script for the project in 2009 but could not get any interested investors, resulting in delays.

Culture

October 5, 2021

15

Sports

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

Hawks shut down late-game comeback by Gannon BEN SPRIGGS Staff Writer dzbbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The No. 25 IUP football team, led by head coach Paul Tortorella, won its second game in a row and third of the season Saturday.

A crowd of more than five thousand people watched the Hawks defeat the Gannon University Golden Knights by a score of 28-23 at George P. Miller Stadium.

The victory was crucial as IUP continues to stack conference wins.

The team is now 2-0 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action.

Transfer quarterback Harry Woodbery (graduate student, business administration) led the offensive attack once again.

Woodbery continued to impress on the field.

The signal caller completed 18 of 32 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

The Crimson Hawks jumped out to a quick lead via the air attack.

They scored on their opening two drives.

The first touchdown came on a 47-yard strike to wide receiver Irvin Charles (redshirt senior, unclassified) and the second included tight end Grant Smith (junior, kinesiology) hauling one in from 10 yards out.

Woodbery would throw his third, and perhaps most impressive, touchdown of the day in the third quarter on a scrambling-acrossthe-body throw to the pylon.

Wide receiver Duane Brown (redshirt junior, sports administration) was able to come down with the touchdown despite being harassed by double coverage.

Most importantly, Woodbery continues to be extremely careful with the ball. He threw zero interceptions.

Tortorella commented on his quarterback's performance.

“Again, Harry had a solid performance and we had zero turnovers,” Tortorella said.

Running backs Justice Evans (senior, business management) and

16

(Molly Cunningham/The Penn) IUP has not had its Homecoming festivities since the fall of 2019 when the football team beat Cal U 17-6.

Malik Anderson (redshirt senior, school of continuing education) led the ground game for the Hawks.

Evans went for 78 yards on 12 carries and was named the offensive player of the game while Anderson cumulated 44 yards on 10 attempts.

The win did not come easy for IUP. After jumping out to an early lead, Gannon responded multiple times to keep things tight.

Running back Melvin Blanks spearheaded the effort for the Golden Knights.

“I thought Gannon played a real good game after we took the early lead. We could not put them away,” Tortorella said.

Defensively, IUP allowed 23 points but played fundamentally sound all game.

Linebacker Connor Kelly (redshirt junior, marketing) played fast sideline to sideline while leading the team with seven solo tackles.

Fellow defenders Darius Bruce (freshman, academic affairs) and Malachi Newell (graduate student, school of continuing education) also shined combining for nine solo tackles between both.

(Nick Schmidt/The Penn) The Hawks were able to convert on 50 percent of their third down opportunities against Gannon.

The coach was pleased with his defense's performance early in the game.

“Defensively, we forced four punts on our first four possessions,” Tortorella said.

The defensive line turned the heat up as the game went on to help close out the Golden Knights.

October 5, 2021

“Similar to the Kutztown game, our front four started getting pressure on the quarterback late in the game,” Tortorella said.

The special team's unit of the Hawks also chipped in by blocking a Gannon extra point in the second half.

The win continues to build mo-

mentum for the team.

IUP football will travel next weekend to face a 0-5 Clarion University football team and look to add its fourth win of the season.

Following that, the team will begin preparing for a massive PSAC matchup against PSAC rival Slippery Rock University.

Sports

Sports

October 5, 2021

17

IUP has impressive showing at Paul Short Invitational Six runners finish in top 100 for men’s and women’s teams

MATT GLOVER Staff Writer htpz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

“[The] Paul Short (Invitational) was a positive step for both the men’s and women’s teams as we build toward the championships,” head coach Joey Zins said.

The men’s cross country team finished 16th out of 41 schools, and the women finished 11th out of 32.

“It was our best meet so far this season, but we still have plenty of room for growth and improvement,” Zins said.

The freshmen led the men with Joel Beckwith (freshman, environmental engineering) finishing 28th out of 340 runners, and Kendall Branan (freshman, history) scoring 87th.

“Joel Beckwith turned in another really impressive performance,” men’s captain Evan Weaver (graduate student, pre-physical therapy) said. “Kendall Branan also gave our team a timely boost with a really solid race.”

Other top finishers for the men include Weaver scoring 101st, Marco Cardone (sophomore, exercise science) scoring 129th and Daniel Gibney (freshman, safety, health and environmental applied sciences) scoring 169th.

The women had three runners score in the top-50 runners and four in the top-100.

Tori James (sophomore, nursing) scored 15th out of 263 runners, Paige Wess (junior, nursing) scored 29th and Bri Herr (graduate student, nutrition and dietetics) scored 44th.

Hannah Miller (freshman, athletic training) scored 97th, and Kalynne Ziegler (freshman, health and physical education) scored 114th.

“This was the second 8k of their careers for eight of our 10 men, and the second 6k for six of our nine women,” Zins said. “Even our more experienced runners are racing these distances for the first time in two years.”

“The team has definitely been improving since the start of our season,” Wess said, “as we are becoming used to racing again

and the longer distance for the freshmen.”

The combination of nice weather, a faster course, an additional two weeks of training and the right level of competition produced many personal best times, Zins said.

“The right level of competition” included many more teams than IUP is used to racing in one weekend up to this point.

“This race was different from our first two that had less than 10 teams,” Wess said, “where this one had around 30, so there was much more competition.”

“I’m really happy with how we competed in our first large cross-country race in a couple years,” Weaver said.

Being an experienced runner, Weaver knows what to say to the team before new, challenging races like this.

“As captain, I just try to make sure everyone feels comfortable and excited,” Weaver said. “I usually say a few words in our team huddle a few minutes before the gun goes off.”

He is even familiar with the competition.

“It was fun getting to see some familiar faces at the meet, especially Sam [Lenze],” Weaver said. “He’s

doing great things at Duquesne just like he did in his time here at IUP.” Lenze, the previous IUP men’s cross-country captain, scored 53rd overall.

With another race behind them, the teams only have one more before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships at the end of the month.

“The PSAC is very competitive, so we have our work cut out for us,” Zins said. “Anything can happen over the next several weeks and on race day, so we just need to continue working hard and smart, do our best to stay healthy, and let the chips fall where they may each meet.”

“I think, as a team, we are on the right track for having a great race at the PSAC’s,” Wess said, “but there is definitely more improving we can do before then.”

We have work to do, Weaver said.

“We had a great showing at Paul Short, but we can’t get complacent,” Weaver said. “Just because we beat some of these PSAC teams there doesn’t mean it will look the same in a few weeks.

“We’re excited but we are still a few weeks away our peak racing form. It’s just back to the grind from here.”

The IUP cross country teams will next race Saturday in the Carnegie Mellon Invitational.

(IUP Athletics) The last time IUP participated in the Paul Short Run in 2019, the men’s team finished 29th and the women’s team finished 13th.

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Sports

October 5, 2021

19

Inconsistent play plaguing volleyball

Hawks looking to start winning streak

(IUP Athletics) The IUP volleyball team has improved immensely from the seven-win season it had in 2019; however, head coach Julie Torbett is not satisfied with the team’s inconsistent play. The Hawks have not had a winning streak last longer than two games.

JAY McGARY Staff Writer fwtz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Chess, cricket, American football, Monopoly, baseball and volleyball all have something in common. They are mental games.

While some may not think of volleyball as the most cerebral sport, the IUP women’s volleyball team of this season is a microcosm of just how important mental fortitude is.

Coming off a week in which they, again, split their games 1-1, it is interesting to see the up-anddown nature of the 2021 Crimson Hawks. They sit at 10-9 on the season, and the primary reason for that record is something head coach Julie Torbett has preached against since day one: inconsistencies.

“I am very unhappy with the inconsistent play of the team,” Torbett said. “I recognize that there is a mental challenge in the fact that we have not historically been beating many of these teams; however, we have the talent and volleyball IQ to perform at a higher level which will lead to a win streak.

“We seem to take two steps forward and one step back, and different players struggle at different times, so the team is not clicking right now.”

The team has not allowed the roller coaster of wins and losses to consume them completely.

“I do always look at the positive, and we have not had a losing streak which can be far more detrimental to the team's psyche.”

This type of response is coming after a week in which IUP certainly displayed how important momentum is to a team. The Hawks were swept by Edinboro after a tough first set which ended 26-24 in favor of the Fighting Scots. That win gave them the confidence to put IUP down in the next two sets, 2516 and 25-21 respectively.

The importance of the first set

is well known to the veteran head coach.

“For our team, the first set seems to be very important,” Torbett said. “We led the entire way, and then we made the errors to give them the set. This is difficult to bounce back from if your team lacks confidence.

“Every humbling loss is an opportunity to become a better player. We are learning the mental tactics to make us better as a team.”

Those mental tactics certainly came into play when IUP met Mercyhurst on Saturday. IUP dropped two heartbreakingly close sets to open the match, losing 25-23 and then 26-24. The Crimson Hawks then rallied and pulled out a close third set victory winning 25-23, and this gave them the confidence to put the Lakers away in the final two sets, opening the floodgates in a 25-14 fourth set win followed by a match-sealing 15-11 victory.

“The Mercyhurst game was a true test of their resilience. When a team is down 0-2 on the road, many times they will pack it in,” Torbett said. “We put ourselves in that situation, and we had to find our way out.”

She continued, adding that she enjoys the team playing with a chip on its shoulder.

“I like five-set matches when my team is the underdog because anyone can win in five, but we were the better team against Mercyhurst, and we found a way to win despite another inconsistent performance,” Torbett said.

As it stands, IUP is 1-4 in division play and, with the rest of the season being strictly Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play, that win streak needs to come if the Hawks plan to make the playoffs. Hopefully it begins this Friday when IUP takes on struggling rival Slippery Rock (4-12) at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. The game starts at 7 p.m.

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Sports

Field hockey drops game to No. 2 West Chester Looking to rebound with two home games this week

JEFFERY HART Editor-in-Chief J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP “No, we are not stuck at all. Not this year. We definitely have the team to compete with any team in this league,” Gary Agard, IUP field hockey head coach, said.

The IUP field hockey team is coming off a tough 6-2 loss against No. 2 West Chester on Saturday.

Going into the game, IUP was fresh off a strong 2-1 victory over Slippery Rock last week, and the Hawks were looking to ride the momentum going up against a tough Golden Rams squad.

It was a tough battle for the Hawks and they were able to stand their ground in the first half holding West Chester to only two points and keeping the game within reach at 2-1 going into halftime.

The second half is where things started to unravel for the Hawks.

“We didn’t execute for all four quarters,” Agard said. “We were

very competitive with them going into the half. We just couldn’t sustain our intensity going into the second half.”

In the second half, IUP was outscored 4-1 and the Golden Rams outshot IUP 15-3.

Along with the tough competition, the Hawks have had to deal with multiple players missing the game due to injuries and COVID-19 concerns.

“We were missing starters on Saturday again for various reasons.

We were playing freshmen who don’t have a lot of playing experience at the moment,” Agard said.

“Every game is a learning experience.”

Despite this tough loss, the Hawks sit at a comfortable 6-2 record this season and sit at No. 7 out of 11 teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

IUP will still have a chance to buffer its record this week as there are two home games coming up against 1-8 Seton Hill and 7-3 Bloomsburg.

Agard and his squad are looking to come away with two big wins

this week and are ready to take on two opponents that could help increase their standing within the PSAC. “Our main objective is to come away this weekend being 8-2,” Agard said. “Bloomsburg is a really good team. We have to prepare for all the teams; even Seton Hill, we have to prepare for them.”

With the season being almost halfway over, the Hawks are looking to be in good shape to make a push for the playoffs. It would be the first time since 2016 that they made the PSAC playoffs.

Agard feels confident in his squad’s ability to make the postseason.

“We will be fine,” Agard said.

“There are just bumps in the road that every team goes through; it’s about how resilient we are.”

Before that, the Hawks will need to get through their next game tonight against Seton Hill. If a team gets too busy looking ahead, it could lead to lapses against opponents.

That is why Agard is “focused on one game at a time.”

(IUP Athletics) Georgiania Chiavacci (graduate student, human resources), the PSAC assists leader, tallied her sixth assist against West Chester.

Soccer falls on the road to the Mercyhurst Lakers ‘Mercyhurst played well and took advantage of the chances, and they won the game’ AUSTIN SMITH Staff Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

(IUP Athletics) Cloe Thoericht took three shots against Mercyhurst and was able to convert on one of them.

The Crimson Hawks did not have the best travel back to IUP this weekend from Erie, Pa. The Hawks suffered a 3-1 loss to the Mercyhurst Lakers which dropped them to a 4-4-1 overall record. The Hawks’ offense was not enough to keep their winning streak going, and they will look to move on and put this loss behind them.

The matchup was very tight in the first half of the game with the score 1-0 in favor of Mercyhurst at halftime. Early into the second half, Chole Theoricht (sophomore, exercise science), assisted

by Samantha Nemeth (sophomore, nursing), put a goal on the board for IUP to get the offense going.

The turning point in the game for the Crimson Hawks was in the later stages of the second

half when the Lakers added two goals. Mercyhurst added one at the 58th minute and one at the 84th minute. The Hawks found themselves outshot heavily throughout this game 25-7. The shots on goal were closer but still in the favor of the Lakers 10-4.

“The team worked hard all game. We got a few chances to score. Mercyhurst played well and took advantage of the chances, and they won the game,” head coach Adel Heder said.

Unfortunately, IUP could not capitalize on the key chances it had in the second half. The defense for IUP managed to hold Mercyhurst to three goals with Samantha Gildner (junior, athletic training) holding down the fort as goalkeeper.

Gildner managed to make a total of seven out of 10 saves for the Hawks and kept them within scoring distance. This point of the season is where players know how they stand from possible playoff contention. The Hawks

have played about half of their games and sit at about a .500 record. With nine games left on the season, the Hawks still have a very good chance at improving their record and claiming a top spot in the standings.

The next two games for IUP will be against teams behind them in the standings. Those teams are California University of Pennsylvania and Clarion University. IUP should look to take advantage and try to grab both wins to kick the Hawks up the standings.

The two games right after that will be the top teams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West, Gannon and Edinboro. The Hawks have a solid young core along with depth to get the job done against their opponents, and it is just a matter of how well the team plays as a whole.

IUP will be getting ready to fight the Clarion Golden Eagles on Oct. 6 at South Campus Field at 4 p.m.