12.3.21

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021

A SEMESTER OF BIG-TIME PLAYS AND BIG-TIME MOMENTS

CULTURE | PAGE 10

VOL. 114 NO. 26

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(Facebook/IUP College Democrats/iup.campuslabs.com/IUP College Republicans) IUP’s campus political organizations advocate for the policies of their preferred parties and encourage students to vote in elections.

IUP College Democrats, Republicans debate EVA TILLICH Managing Editor jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP On Nov. 30, the Political Leadership Society (PLS) organized a debate between the IUP College Republicans (CR) and the IUP College Democrats (CD).

The debate kicked off at 7 p.m. in Leonard Hall. It was moderated by two PLS members, Kai Heide (junior, political science/ pre-law and journalism) and Ann Gamble (junior, political science).

Heide asked a series of three to four questions from four different categories to each group while Gamble kept track of the time allowed to respond.

News

Heide explained that each group would have one minute to answer the initial question, and then the other side would have the chance to have 30 seconds to rebuttal. After the rebuttal, the opposing side would have 15 seconds to respond and so on.

The CR sat on one side of the moderators and the CD on the other.

The first set of questions was about Afghanistan and Israel.

“Was this the right time to withdraw from Afghanistan?” Heidi said.

The CR were given the opportunity to talk first.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Cameron Downer (senior, political science) said. “The time was present. Peace is a two-way street.”

The CD then rebutted. They both agreed that the situation was not ideal, and the U.S. military could not stay in Afghanistan forever.

The second section of questions

was about reproductive rights, and once again the CR and CD found that they pretty much agreed on issues like whether the Texas Abortion laws were constitutional or not. The same was true about the education section.

The final section of the debate was the most heated discussion and involved questions about voter rights. The CR began the argument and claimed that there was no need to change America’s current voting system because, although not perfect, it worked.

CD’s president Brian Doyle (senior, history) refuted by claiming that the electoral college gives more advantage to states than to the actual people voting in those states. Doyle proposed a popular-vote system instead, so each individual vote matters as much as the other.

“I don’t want states to vote; I want people to vote,” Doyle said.

Overall, many of the students

December 3, 2021

who attended the debate were rather surprised at how seemingly well the debate went. Unlike the actual presidential debates last year, IUP’s debate did not involve any yelling or low insults. As a matter of fact, except for the final question, there was little-to-no disagreement between the participants.

Some students claim that while they were pleased with the posture and politeness of both the CR and the CD, the lack of actual disagreement and discussion made the debate rather “underwhelming.”

“I believe that in order for a debate to be successful, there must be at least some level of disagreement,” Brandon Kimmel (sophomore, English) said. “I’m not saying I think they should have fought each other or anything like that, but I do think that a debate won’t work if both sides are constantly like, ‘I agree with you.’”

Kimmel added that he did not believe it was neither the CD’s nor

the CR’s fault for constantly agreeing with each other, but rather the choice of questions could have been better.

“The issues debated were good issues to talk about as they are politically divisive, but the questions asked were not [divisive],” Kimmel said. “Most questions were a bit too specific and only about the things we know are common ground between the Democrats and Republicans, so there was no room for disagreement.”

Despite the lack of disagreement and debatable topics, most attendees felt as if the debate was a good opportunity to get to know IUP’s affiliated wings of America’s biggest political parties.

The debate concluded with the CR President Alex Huber (junior, communications media) and CD President Brian Doyle (senior, history) shaking hands.

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News

IUP College Democrats, Republicans debate cont.

(Caio Gomes/The Penn) The IUP College Democrats (left) and the IUP College Republicans (not pictured) debated issues including Afghanistan and Israel, reproductive rights education, and voting rights in Leonard Hall on Tuesday. Student participants made respectful, concise arguments for their stances on these issues.

News

December 3, 2021

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Creating new generation of leaders Assistant director of MSCLE guides, advises students MOLLY CUNNINGHAM Staff Writer kydy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP A discussion on leaving a legacy and making a difference was led by Mr. Kevin Foster, the assistant director of the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement (MCSLE), at Elkin Hall.

This was the final meeting for the executive leader series of the semester. Contributions and celebrating values and victories are ways that Greek life, organizations, clubs and friends can make a difference by coming together as a group. Being there for one another not only creates a sense of community but helps one another get through whatever struggles they may be dealing with.

The discussion on leadership brought a new definition of

“being a lot more self-aware of the things we say and do in terms of how we interact with people that we may potentially want to believe,” Joseph Lee (senior, biology, pre-veterinary) said.

New strengths were acquired by the students that have been attending these workshops as they became more self-aware.

One of the things that these students have been working on is being more assertive rather than aggressive.

Foster mentioned how important it is to recognize peoples’ thoughts and feelings. Showing appreciation and recognition to those in organizations or communities that people value is important to making a difference.

A student described making a difference as “making a positive impact to those around you while also impacting your influence.”

A water droplet and footprints on the beach were used as an

(Facebook/IUP MSCLE) The IUP Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement is a campus meeting space and resource for students of different backgrounds to get to know one another. The center is dedicated to making all students feel welcome and happy at IUP.

example by Foster as imagery of leaving a legacy. There is a time after leaving a legacy which is when things can change and grow on what people gave to their organizations and communities.

“When you leave or enter a situation, you can’t avoid making a ripple or an effect,” Foster said. “When you walk on sand, you can’t help but leave footprints behind.

“Over time those ripples might go away.

Over time the ocean will wash away the footprints.”

The ability that people have when making an impact, whether

it is a moment in time or leaving something behind, can shift away new ideas. Foster wanted students to think about the time that they have had with others and their intentions.

“Not just taking for granted the day you have for today, tomorrow, the next day, but knowing that you can make a difference and providing a bit of a foundation to it,” Foster said.

The question of “Do you want to be remembered?” was asked in this presentation. If you are invested in something, thinking ahead of time can leave a meaningful and lasting impact.

(Twitter/IUP MSCLE) Mr. Kevin Foster (above) is the assistant director of the IUP Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement. He frequently gives presentations on campus that help students better themselves both professionally and personally.

An image of Sutton Hall in the late 1800s was shown as an example of leaving a legacy at IUP. At the time, there used to be a train track that students used to get off of in front of Sutton and walk up a path to the middle door of Sutton.

This building, as Foster described, was once an all-in-one building. The residency hall, dining hall, classroom and a gymnasium were all included in this building.

John Sutton left his legacy on one building of a normal school that ended up becoming the university that now stands as IUP. Foster said that it is an artifact on campus that is a symbol of academics.

Paying it forward is something that can truly leave an impact on someone that could be temporary but would also make a difference in somebody’s day or life. Examples of this are buying someone’s coffee for the person behind you in a drive-thru. Becoming self-aware is also being self-aware of others.

“That impact on you is their legacy,” Foster said. “It doesn’t always have to be a building or a symbol; it could be the feeling in that moment you interacted with someone, with another individual.”

A shared experience such as “big” and “littles” in sororities are ways of passing down legacies and traditions. Interactions and experiences with people, whether friends or people in your organization, can impact various decisions that you make on a day-to-day basis in a significant way.

Every week, students would write down reflections based on the presentations and how they applied what they learned to their own lives.

Thinking before you speak and paying attention to those around you will make a positive impact on yourself and others.

Being an effective leader requires that you understand how other people feel about the things that you say and do.

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News

IUP Giving Tuesday surpasses goal Money will be used to create new scholarships

By IUP News Information

Indiana University of Pennsylvania nearly tripled its fundraising goal for Giving Tuesday 2021, raising more than $29,000 with gifts from 152 donors. The majority of these funds will be used for student scholarships.

With this year’s total, $111,928 has been donated during this oneday event in just four years.

Giving Tuesday is a national effort, scheduled each year for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. IUP began its Giving Tuesday tradition in 2017.

“Members of the IUP family continue to demonstrate how dedicated they are to meeting the needs of our students,” IUP Vice President for University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna said. “Time and time again, our

donors not only answer the call, lished to help students cover doubling the $20,000 goal. The they shatter fundraising goals,” costs associated with unexpect2020 Giving Tuesday campaign she said. “They are amazing in the ed technology, travel, and other was part of IUP’s Imagine Unlimpassion, care and concern that needs, including those related to ited comprehensive campaign, they have for our students and for the pandemic, generated $46,528 which had a goal of $75 million but this university.” from 223 donors, more than raised $81.36 million, and closed The 2021 inisix months tiative provided ahead of opportunities schedule in for donors to December choose the 2020. designation In 2018, a for their gifts, total of 144 with a special donors made emphasis on gifts totaluniversity-wide ing 16,247 scholarships. during The 2020 the Giving Giving TuesTuesday day campaign, project. Of which focused these gifts, (iup.edu) 121 donors on the Student IUP is using the money from its Giving Tuesday 2021 events to creAssistance gave $8,700 Fund estabto support the ate new scholarships for students.

creation of the IUP Food Pantry and Help Center, now open and located in the Suites on Pratt. The Center offers food staples, school supplies, and some clothing.

Imagine Unlimited is the largest comprehensive campaign in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, past or present, and included the university’s largest one-time gifts: one of $23 million and one of $7 million. This record-breaking campaign drew broad-based support at all levels, including more than 22,000 donors making 63,700 gifts. The campaign also saw a 171 percent increase in student giving since 2015.

The Imagine Unlimited campaign priorities included enhancing science and mathematics, academic excellence and innovation, student success, and leadership through athletic competition.

News

December 3, 2021

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Students prepare for final exams Tips, tricks for success discussed KELLY BLANKENBICKER Staff Writer svcy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP ALYSSA MINERD Staff Writer nnrz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP students have begun to prepare for finals week which will start Tuesday and end Dec. 10.

Some students take advantage of resources on campus.

“I’m preparing for finals by going to offered study and review sessions and reviewing books and notes,” Kaylee Pagane (junior, criminology) said. “As a transfer student, this will be my first finals week ever on campus.”

Stapleton Library, Folger and the Hadley Union Building (HUB) will all be open to students as study spaces during finals.

“I study between my classes and after for two to four hours,” Thomas Cici (sophomore, accounting) said. “I like to make flash cards for the lectures that have a lot of terms to remember.

I also rewrite my notes in some classes.

“The biggest trick I have for finals is reviewing past assignments because most likely the same material will be covered on the final.”

Students can either study at home, or they can use various study spaces on campus.

The library’s hours during finals week will be the following: Sunday: Noon – 10 p.m. and Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – midnight.

Folger’s hours during finals week will be the following: Tuesday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. and Dec. 10: Closed.

The HUB building hours during finals week will be the following: Monday – Dec. 10: 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m., Dec. 11: 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Dec. 12: Closed.

The HUB computer lab hours during finals week will be the following: Today: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday – Sunday: Closed, and Monday – Thursday: 8:30

a.m. – 9 p.m.

Walk-in tutoring is available at several different locations on campus. For more details on tutoring, contact (724) 357-4007 or email merwin@ iup.edu. The Jones White Writing Center is also available for regular hours during finals week for online tutoring.

Many students find it useful to

create a list of things so that they can stay on track.

“I’m making a checklist of all the things I needed to get done for all my classes and prioritizing the classes where I think the final will be the hardest,” Brody Rife (sophomore, cyber security) said. “I am studying for every class a little bit every day, so I don’t get overwhelmed with just one subject. I also have been

trying to utilize people in my classes to help me get some points that I have been struggling with.”

“I have been writing down the times of all my finals and scheduling out the times available to study for them,” Mark Phillippi (junior, criminology) said.

“My biggest trick for studying

(Facebook/IUP College of Education and Communication) Finals week can be a stressful time for students. It is important to remember to study and keep track of any assignments that may be due. Organization is one of the many keys to ending the semester on a successful note.

for finals is to organize yourself in advance. So, by knowing what all is expected of you, you can begin prioritizing your work.

“I think that it is especially important to organize yourself as we move back to in-person finals because we don’t have the ease of doing finals at home.”

Some students even create their own study guides if they are not provided one by their teacher.

“I am preparing for finals by making my own study guide for each class,” Madison D’Hert (sophomore, psychology) said.

Everyone’s path to success is going to be a little different, so it is very important to find what works best for you. Some people study for long periods of time while other people tend to cram.

“I stress all week but then I normally don’t study until the night before,” Juliette Lilley (senior, communications media/ media production) said. “I still manage to get all of my studying and assignments done, though.”

It is important to remember not to overwhelm yourself by studying. Taking breaks and dedicating time to de-stress is an important part of studying.

“My breaks consist of naps,” Matus said. “I find it hard to look at my computer screen for an extended period of time. It gives me a headache pretty easily.”

There are several in-person and virtual events available for de-stressing. Students can pet the therapy dogs or go to the Center for Health and Well-Being’s De-Stress Fest.

There will also be free pancakes at North Dining from 10:30 p.m. to midnight with or without a meal plan.

The finals week schedule can be found on iup.edu under the News Events section by clicking on the Registrar tab.

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News

Opinion

Students encouraged to give gifts of service during holidays While many people say it is bad to be alone for the holidays, there is something more prevalent to be concerned about.

Given the ever-present impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an economic downturn that marked the latter end of 2020, the homeless rates in the United States have only been increasing.

“I can’t give you numbers on how much homelessness has increased during the pandemic, but we know it has increased,” Marcia Fudge, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, said earlier this year in a briefing at the White House.

According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, there are about 3.5 million Americans that experience homelessness every year. This becomes a bigger issue during the holiday season, namely due to the weather conditions. If someone is homeless, there is a chance that they do not have access to adequate clothing to resist the colder temperatures that the later months of the year bring.

With all of that in mind, the question then becomes what can people that are more fortunate do to help this staggering number of Americans. Various groups at IUP, like the Cook Honors College (CHC), have held drives for essential items to donate to help people that are homeless or are living in shelters.

Actions like that may not seem very big but putting it in the larger perspective shows the benefit and how much drives and donations really do help.

Many homeless shelters in the United States subsist almost entirely on donations of money or goods. Since they make no money from housing people, it is imperative that they receive donations in order to stay open to help people.

Generally speaking, there are certain items that are always in high demand for shelters. Stuff like blankets, socks, shoes and general hygiene products are some of the biggest ones that

Opinion

are regularly needed.

In addition to those, money and non-perishable food items are also widely accepted by many shelters. After all, one of the biggest traditions during the holiday season is a large meal with family, something that people who are homeless cannot afford to do. Providing food to shelters or to people in need directly help them to not go hungry over the holidays.

There are several organizations and groups that make it their mission to help people that are less fortunate, like the Project Linus that gives blankets to people that are in need or the well-known Salvation Army.

While donations are crucial to aiding the homeless population, there are other ways that they can be helped that are not explicitly donations of money or goods. For example, educating other more fortunate people is a big step.

There is a stigma in the United States among a lot of people that those who are homeless were irresponsible or are addicts. Those mindsets only hurt the homeless population. It is important for everyone to be aware that there is often a lot of factors that go into someone having to be homeless.

After all, nobody strives to be without a place to live.

According to shelterstoshutters.org, most of the homeless people in the United States have become homeless due to things like job loss, divorce or domes(The Homeless Alliance/Facebook) tic abuse. Those reasons are far from the stigmatized reasons that Organizations like the Homeless Alliance work to end homelessness and have held several charity are often said by people that and service events to help those in need. are prejudiced against homeless research or by getting in contact So, be sure to enjoy the holiand being grateful for family and people, like undiagnosed mental with a local shelter or group. Ofdays, but at the same time try to friends, so try to give to others health issues or substance abuse ten times, most urban areas have find shelters or organizations to that desperately need it. You problems that would make them a good number of shelters that make donations to. Sometimes never know how much a donaa “lost cause.” will accept donations and aid even the smallest donation can tion can change someone’s life, It is important to break the from anyone willing to give it. have a massively positive impact especially if they are in desperate stigmas that surround being For instance, there are more on the life of someone who is need of assistance. homeless. Those people did not than 20 different groups active less fortunate. If you do donate, choose the life that they have to in Pittsburgh that will accept be sure to call ahead to make lead.

Brought to you By sure the shelter or group you are To take this into consideration, donations from the local populaThe Penn Editorial Board supporting will be able to accept additional information about how tion. This is a trend that naturally progresses for other areas and the goods you have to give. to help the homeless population cities across the United States.

The holidays are about giving can be found by doing some

December 3, 2021

9

Culture

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

(displus.com) Despite the move being controversial among some students, there was a need to suspend the bus program as it became too expensive for STATIC to support.

STATIC discontinues break buses More affordable options available through alternative KCAC service KIARA WASHINGTON

Staff Writer mfmy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The longstanding break bus service offered by the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) is a thing of the past. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing for students looking for affordable transportation options.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, STATIC provided the service every semester, which offered students without transportation a means to get home over the Thanksgiving, winter and spring

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breaks at a reasonable price.

Then, the pandemic began and during the 2020-21 school year, the break bus service was suspended due to the low number of students on campus. But with more students back on campus this school year, some were surprised to find out the popular service hadn’t made a return.

“I honestly didn’t even know they stopped it until the week of Thanksgiving break,” Halanna Howard (senior, political science/ prelaw) said. “It’s unfortunate, but I had to just stay for break that weekend until I could find a way home.”

“The bus was a guaranteed, alternate way to get home,” Vanessa Agyapong (senior, communications media) said. “It’s pretty inconvenient because now students have to fend for themselves.

“Some people tax really high if you want to pay for a ride home, and what if someone’s car is full?

It’s not fair.”

Unbeknownst to most students, the break buses were not provided by the university, but by STATIC and the IUP Student Co-op Association. The buses departed and arrived from the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC).

December 3, 2021

“It is not a Kovalchick Complex service, and it is not connected with IUP’s Parking and Transportation Services,” Sam Phillips said, the Associate Vice President for University Operations and Administrative Services.

At face value, the discontinuation of the break buses might seem like an unwise decision.

“I just found out this week they weren’t having [the] bus service,” Shayne Rowland (senior, criminology) said. “This upsets me because, although I don’t take the bus, I would use it if I was a freshman. I didn’t have a car freshman year so it’s upsetting to hear.

“We spend all this money. We can have concerts, movie nights and everything else but [IUP] can’t find a way to bring their students back home? Very odd.”

However, the decision was made in the best interest of the IUP student body, according to Lou Garzarelli, the CEO of the IUP Student Co-op Association, under which STATIC operates.

Around 2016, securing a contract with a bus company became increasingly more difficult for STATIC. And more expensive, leading to higher ticket prices for the students who utilized the service.

Contiinued on Page 11

Culture

Culture

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December 3, 2021

STATIC nixes break buses Continued from Page 10 “In 2016-17, we were struggling to find a bus contractor to take over the break buses to the destinations out east,” Garzarelli said. “Every year, the bus fee was going up.

They continued to increase their prices, so the students were starting to feel the pinch and the gouge of the increase of the costs.”

Despite STATIC’s best efforts, ticket prices kept rising until things came to a head at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Coinciding with the pandemic was the fact the KCAC sells Greyhound tickets at more affordable prices and to more destinations. So it seemed like an opportune time to discontinue STATIC’s break buses.

“Really, it was the perfect storm, or the imperfect storm,” Garzarelli said. “We couldn’t even get a bus company to take us, to give us a contract. At that point in time, we saw an opportunity for students to get home through the Greyhound tickets being sold at the KCAC. And we’ve just continued that. …

We still cannot find a bus company that is able to operate a break bus service for us at a cost that is less than the Greyhound buses.”

Another benefit of the Greyhound option through the KCAC is that students can go home any time they want – say in the middle of October or February – not just over the breaks.

“It gave students more flexibility to be able to travel home than waiting for the break buses,” Garzarelli said.

While some students are disheartened by the news, others believe that the break bus service is not necessarily needed.

“Students can still buy a Greyhound ticket or find a way to get home just like I do,” Enoch Tariku (sophomore, communications media) said, who is the Advertising Chair for STATIC. “There are other buses to get around.”

Students that need a Greyhound bus ticket can find them at https://www.greyhound.com/en-us/ bus-stations-in-indiana.

(iup.edu) With the winter break beginning after the final exam period next Friday, many students have started to plan how they will get back home as well as activities to do on campus to wrap up their final week at IUP for the fall semester.

Students share plans for winter break LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

There is one time of the year that is coveted by many IUP students.

That time is winter break. With the classes winding to an end and finals going on throughout next week, there is nothing students look forward to more than being able to be done with college for about a month over the break.

“I am just ready to get away from college for a bit, to be honest,” Nathan Hoover (sophomore, history) said. “Being able to take the time over break to just relax is what I am most looking forward to.”

Hoover went on to say that the winter break is important for so many students since it follows the finals period. As said by Hoover, there is a lot of stress in

the last weeks of a semester, so having a break right after is great to relieve that stress.

The break may be great to relieve stress, but the question then becomes what students are planning to do in the time that they are home. After all, there is a lot of time available.

Whether they spend the time retuning to a job and working or catching up with people, there are many options for students to pursue as they enjoy their time off.

“I am looking forward to getting to see family and friends for longer than I did over the [Thanksgiving break],” Dylan McDonald (sophomore, psychology) said. “Sure, it will be nice to take

a break after finals, but I am more looking forward to hanging out with people and taking it easy.”

McDonald continued that, while he had a week to meet up with people, it was hard because time schedules were more compacted and different schools have different break times. With the winter break that issue is resolved as there is more time and therefore more flexibility to make plans.

In addition to seeing people that he missed the chance to see over Thanksgiving, McDonald also plans to use the winter break to catch up on shows that he has not had the time to watch over the course of the semester. Often times students can fall behind

on things they like to watch as schoolwork takes up more and more of their time.

Being able to be with pets is something that normally is not thought about in the wide scope of a break, but it is a factor for a lot of people. Animals are ways for people to feel comforted and more secure, leading to their importance when a break sets in for college students. “[I plan to] spend time with family and more importantly my two Great Danes and horse,” Emma Naugle (freshman, early childhood education) said. “I’m very excited for it. I miss them a lot while I’m here.”

No matter what your plans are over the break, The Penn wishes the best. Students deserve time away and time to relax after working hard during the semester.

Good work over the course of the semester, and the best of luck for whatever next semester presents you with.

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December 3, 2021

Culture

Extra time does not equal extra enjoyment Students disappointed as IUP adds additional week 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. *This story is fictional As finals week approaches, students begin to dream of the long-awaited winter break that is finally coming. Or is it?

IUP is considering adding another week, called “Preparation Week”, for students to help them study for their finals. Therefore, instead of finals being next week, they will be in two weeks. There will be no classes during this week as well.

IUP believes that this week will give students the opportunity to approach their exams with complete confidence and with little stress.

“If students are stressed or overwhelmed when they head into their final exams, they will not do as well as they could do,” Isa Joek, the director of the York-Indiana-Kutztown-Erie Statistical Institute (Y.I.K.E.S. Institute), said. “I think giving students a week to completely focus on preparing for exams will lead to students getting better grades, and it could even improve their mental health. Additionally, students can use this time to reach out to their professors.”

Joek estimated that a lot of

(laslomaspage.org) In a move that shocked many students, IUP released details about a planned “Preparation Week” for students before finals. While this move has good intentions, there are many students that are not happy with the change, especially since it was on short notice. students would benefit from this added week, and several students agreed that this is a great way to study.

“I have done a lot of research for IUP in just this semester alone and had the opportunity to work with a lot of students, so I am fairly confident about my predictions,”

Joek said.

Students gave a wide range of reasons in support of this potential addition to the academic year.

“I work during the weekend and don’t have a lot of time to prepare for my tests, so I am super worried that I won’t do well,” Amelia Pond (sophomore, criminology) said. “I know that I know the content but if I don’t study and reread material, I feel like I’ll forget everything the second I start my exam.”

In addition to having worries about not being prepared, these concerns could turn into

bigger issues relating to health and well-being. Students could become sleep deprived if they are up studying all night or worrying about what content will be on the exam. Sleep deprivation could lead to an even steeper decline in academic performance.

Despite the advantages of Preparation Week, many students just want the semester to be over.

“I love IUP, but I don’t want to be here any longer,” Richard Cat (senior, biology/pre-veterinary) said. “I just want to finish all of my finals and then go home, relax and hang out with my cat, Goose. I just really need a break from school.”

Like Cat, several students just

want to do their finals now and get everything out of the way.

“I think pushing finals back a week is only going to make me more anxious and doubt what I know,” Matt Smith (junior, Earth and space science education) said.

“I am already so stressed about my ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend.

I hope she’s doing okay and does well on her finals – not her boyfriend, though.”

In general, most students felt that this “preparation week” will do more harm than good and are not excited about it. Thankfully, this article is a mere hoax and the said “preparation week” will not exist.

Culture

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December 3, 2021

Culture

(Spotify) wrapped up, ready for Christmas CAIO GOMES Lead Culture Writer hysbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP *This article contains opinion Billboard has released its YearEnd chart this Thursday, essentially ending the 2021 calendar year in music.

As we wrap this year marked by industry changes, mass consumption and viral trends, it is noticeable that among the multiple hits of 2021 some songs have stood out more than others. These are six of the songs that have impacted 2021 the most whether because of its popularity or because of its impact in the industry.

Lil Nas X – Montero (Call Me by Your Name) “You live in the dark, boy.”

After spending a year outside of the spotlight, many critics and industry analysts have ruled Lil Nas X as a “one-hit wonder,” having only his 2019 hit “Old Town Road” as a successful single. They could not have been more wrong. Released in late March, “Montero” debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his second No. 1 hit in the United States. It has spent multiple weeks at the chart’s top 10, similar to his previous No. 1 hit “Old Town Road.”

There is something different about “Montero’s” Lil Nas X when compared to “Old Town Road’s” Lil Nas X. Having come out of the closet and embracing his sexuality, Lil Nas X presented a bolder and unapologetic version of himself.

As denoted by Variety Magazine, before Lil Nas X there were LGBTQ+ artists such as Elton John and Ricky Martin that reached the top by not addressing their sexualities and fitting into heteronormativity, and there were other artists like Frank Ocean and Troye Sivan who were unapologetically loud about their sexualities, but, because of that, failed to achieve significant success. With “Montero,” Lil Nas X managed to achieve commercial success without sacrificing his sexuality, an act that has not only marked 2021 but will likely mark the music industry from now on.

Olivia Rodrigo – Brutal “God, it’s brutal out here.”

(nme.com) “Red (Taylor’s Version)” has gotten a total of 90.8 million streams, topping her own record set by 2020’s “Folklore.”

After “dying” in the 2010s, pop-punk is back, and it has a Gen Z twist to it. This is mostly due to the works of one Olivia Rodrigo, who dominated 2021 with her smash-debut album “Sour.”

Rodrigo spawned three topthree singles, each in a different genre: emotional “Driver’s License” is a ballad while the angsty “Déjà vu” is a classic rock song, and the tongue-in-cheek hit “Good 4 U” is a pop-punk song. One could argue that the entire “Sour” album is not only a good representation of 2021 but of Gen Z as a whole. This is where “Brutal” comes into play; although not as commercially successful as her other singles, “Brutal” does an excellent job at representing the entirety of “Sour.”

With lines like, “All I did was try my best, is this the kind of thanks I get?” and “Who am I if not exploited,” the song addresses the hardships of coming of age and dealing with high expectations of others in a chaotic period of history marked by a global COVID-19 pandemic, uprising in political conflicts and an economic recession. And it does so in a brutally honest yet sarcastic way that only a Gen Z singer-songwriter could have done.

Tomorrow X Together – 0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You) “All of nothing, I want all of you.”

While Rodrigo was responsible for reviving pop-punk in the Western Hemisphere, the Korean idol group Tomorrow X Together single handedly carried the revival of the genre in the eastern portion of the globe. Oversentimental and edgy, the single proved itself a hit and skyrocketed the group to the top of the charts, not only in South Korea but in Japan, Singapore and New Zealand as well.

When combined with the deluxe edition, “0X1=Lovesong’s” parent album, “The Chaos Chapter,” has sold over 1.5 million physical copies. This is a leap from its previous highest-selling album, “Minisode1: Blue Hour,” which has sold over 600 thousand copies.

The jump is mostly attributed to the success of “0X1=Lovesong” and its successor single, “Loser = Lover.”

Beyond its impact in the Eastern Hemisphere, “0X1=Lovesong” along with the rest of “The Chaos Chapter” also made quite some noise in the west. As “The Chaos Chapter” entered the Billboard 200 Albums Year-End chart, Tomorrow X Together became just the second Korean artist to place an album in the rank.

Previously, many deemed that this would be a feat that only BTS could do, so Tomorrow X Together’s rise is not only an indicator of the group’s success but also an indicator that the American market is more open for foreign language artists than it has ever been.

The Kid Laroi – Stay “I told you I’d change even when I knew I never could.”

Pop-punk was not the only genre Gen Z has decided to revive this year. Last year, millennials revived 80s’ disco with Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia” and The Weeknd’s “After Hours”; this year Gen Z decided to revive yet another trend from the 1980s: pop-rock infused techno. And nobody has done it better than The Kid Laroi with his smash hit “Stay.”

“Stay” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks despite not being originally released through a big label. This exemplifies a shift in the music industry that will continue to happen going forward. The rise of platforms like Soundcloud and TikTok, combined with the rise of streaming and the decline of radio, made being signed with a big label less of a necessity and more of a tool for artists. While a couple of years ago it would be nearly impossible for a song released independently to top the charts, nowadays it is not as strange — “Stay” being the best example of that.

Walker Hayes — “Fancy Like” “We fancy like Applebee's on a date night, got that Bourbon Street steak with the Oreo shake.”

If you think that only Gen Z artists can benefit from the rise of

TikTok, Walker Hayes’ country hit “Fancy Like” invites you to think twice.

Written by Hayes during the COVID-19 pandemic with the sole purpose of entertaining his kids through making funny TikTok sounds, “Fancy Like” went viral on the platform despite being a country song, a genre that is not very popular on TikTok. On a personal level, it translated into Hayes’ first top-three single on Billboard Hot 100 and first Grammy-nominated song. Industrially wise, this proved that TikTok’s hit machine will not discriminate based on age or genre.

“Fancy Like’s” massive appeal was such a hit that it led Applebee’s to bring back its Oreo Shake which was mentioned in the song but had been discontinued last year.

Taylor Swift—All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) “It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well.”

Reaching the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 is a hard feat. Doing so with a 10-minute-long, re-recorded song was deemed nearly impossible. Yet, Taylor Swift managed to do it.

Originally released in 2012, “All Too Well” was included in Swift’s second installment of re-recorded albums; a move made by Swift in order to regain control over her masters after they were sold by her former label without her consent.

Although nobody had doubted that any of Swift’s re-recordings would achieve some sort of success, the fact that her re-recorded albums have been as successful as many “original” albums released has pushed many other artists who have been struggling to gain ownership over their work, like the Taiwanese band Sodagreen, to do the same thing as Swift.

By reaching the top despite being nearly a decade old and not being a single, All Too Well has finally proven that it deserved holding its spot in pop culture as one of the best songs written in the 21st century. Moving forward, it will not be surprising if artists choose to promote fan-favorite b-sides like “All Too Well” as opposed to radio-friendly singles when promoting a re-recorded album. In the end, nostalgia seems to be the greatest commercial tool.

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Students share favorite albums of 2021 FLORA KELLY Staff Writer pzzy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

As the fall semester and 2021 overall draws to a close, many look back on the music that defined the last year of our lives.

Maybe some are looking at Spotify Wrapped and feel that they cannot post it because somehow Box Fan White Noise, lo-fi hip hop beats to study/relax to and Weezer ended up being their top artists of the year.

Yet, as many people as there are that hide their Spotify Wrapped in shame, there are twice as many who are eager to deliver a review of their top albums from the past year.

“My favorite album in 2021 would definitely have to be ABBA’s ‘Voyage’ album,” Lucy Panian (junior, communications media) said. “It’s their first studio album in over 20 years, and honestly it sounds just like their older stuff, which I love. My favorite song off the album has to be ‘Don’t Shut

(rollingstone.com) ABBA was one of the most successful acts of the ‘70s with hits like “Dancing Queen” and “Chiquitita.”

Me Down.’

“I have personally always loved ABBA, so when I found out they released a new album in 2021 I was astounded and listened to it immediately. There has been other ‘older’ artists that have released albums this year such as Duran Duran, but honestly it did not stack up against ‘Voyage.’”

Natalie Jenkins (sophomore, criminology/pre-law) cited Taylor Swift’s re-recording of her 2012 album “Red” as her favorite album

of the last year. “[‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ album] is absolutely amazing,” Jenkins said. “She brings such a maturity to the songs written by her younger self. She also brings life to many songs from her vault such as ‘Nothing New ft. Phoebe Bridgers’ and ‘I Bet You Think About Me ft. Chris Stapleton.’

“The original album (‘Red’) came out when I was very young and was always my favorite. Having lived a bit more, I can really appreciate her

beautiful songwriting. Not to mention the 10-minute version of ‘All Too Well.’ It’s truly a masterpiece.”

“One album I’ve been listening to a lot lately is ‘LP!’ by JPGMAFIA which came out in October,” Jett Baumgardner (senior, communications media) said. “His first two were fantastic, which were ‘Veteran’ and ‘All my Heroes Are Corn Balls,’ but, in my opinion, I think that this might be his best work.

“There’s so much about this album that I love. JPG is such a unique sound; he’s not quite like any other rapper I’ve heard, at least not in the last 10 years. There were a bunch of songs that I loved on this [album]. ‘Rebound’ is fantastic it’s got a great hook and a phenomenal beat. ‘Dirty’ and ‘OG’ are some other great ones.”

Baumgardner continued on why JPGMAFIA has risen in popularity and what attracts people to his work.

“I think his unpredictability in a lot of his songs is what makes him stand out and what draws me and I think a lot of other people to his

work,” Baumgardner said. “There’s so many examples of unique sounds that he puts into his songs.

Like I know in the past he’s used, like, pens clicking and records scratching.

“Like, he’s used lots of different elements that you wouldn’t expect to see in certain rap songs, but he does it in such a way that I think gives him an edge over a lot of other guys.”

“Left at London dropped a really great album over the summer this year: ‘T.I.A.P.F.Y.H.,’” Gaige Tarris (senior, communications media) said. “It’s incredible.

“There’s some tracks on there where I just start crying every time I hear them.”

From such a diverse array of music recommendations in terms of genre and intention, one of these albums is bound to be a hit for those reading. Even though many will inevitably continue to listen to the same five favorite albums on repeat, we can all look forward to the new music yet to be released in 2022.

Sports

Editor-in-Chief: Jeffery Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu Lead Sports Writer: Matt Glover – htpz@iup.edu

(IUP Athletics) The IUP tennis and IUP golf teams have a long-standing history of success and have attracted athletes worldwide.

A semester of big-time plays, big-time moments A look back at best moments from fall semester for IUP Athletics

BEN SPRIGGS Staff Writer dzbbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Sports programs at IUP have historically achieved much success.

This past semester was no different.

Another achievement filled the IUP fall sports’ season as it has concluded, and winter athletics are now in full swing.

With that success in mind, it is time to recall some of the best sport moments accomplished over the past few months by those who wear the crimson and gray.

Football IUP football did not make the regional playoffs, but there is still much to celebrate.

A 7-3 overall record sounds pretty good, but do you know what sounds even better?

Thrashing archrival Slippery Rock University (SRU) on the road by a score of 48-21.

That is exactly what Coach Paul Tortorella and his squad did, and it was the peak of an overall successful season.

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Victory against SRU had not been previously achieved since 2017.

IUP football will need to find a new quarterback for next fall as Harry Woodbery (graduate student, business administration) has run out of eligibility and backup Javon Davis (sophomore, math education) has recently entered the transfer portal.

Time to talk about the champions.

Golf IUP golf won its record 31st Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship back in October.

Led by Isaiah Swan (freshman, finance), who won an individual PSAC title, the golf team edged out Gannon University in Hershey, Pa. Swan is the first Crimson Hawk to win the individual award since 2007.

It was the fifth team title in the past six years for IUP, and no other PSAC school has more total championships in golf.

The golf program is a powerhouse and will look to carry its

momentum into next season.

Tennis IUP tennis delivered on its end as well and deserves more recognition.

One of its biggest wins came right here on campus at the Maple Street courts.

In the PSAC championship tournament back in October, IUP tennis swept both the individual and doubles tournaments in front of home fans.

Karolin Kirchtag (senior, sports administration) was phenomenal, winning the individual title while also being a part of the duo to bring home the doubles’ championship.

Playing alongside Kirchtag was Katy Graydon (sophomore, undecided).

IUP tennis also had four players be selected to the recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Cup in Rome, Ga. The feat was the first time in history that an IUP athlete qualified for the event, and Indiana sent four.

All four competed well and three achieved victories in the tournament.

December 3, 2021

The team will resume playing in February for the spring section.

Field Hockey Led by head coach Gary Agard, IUP field hockey also made some noise.

The ladies started off the season fast at 5-0.

Following some losses mid-season and an overall record of 10-5, they found themselves with a mountain of a task in their regular season finale.

Home matchup against favorited Kutztown: win and they are in the playoffs.

IUP field hockey upset Kutztown 1-0 at Miller Stadium last month and earned its first PSAC playoffs berth since 2016; it was also the team's ninth appearance in the tournament ever.

Claire Murphy (sophomore, math education) scored the game-winning and lone goal against the Golden Bears.

The team went on to lose to Millersville in the first round of the PSAC tournament, but the Lady Hawks will be back next season with an experienced and

talented squad.

Cross Country IUP men’s cross country ran its way to a solid season.

The team’s best performance came in the Go-Fast River Run at Lock Haven University where it finished second overall.

The men also finished eighth in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships early last month.

Not every year can be a playoff run year.

Volleyball and Soccer Although IUP women’s volleyball and soccer teams did not qualify for their tournaments, both finished the regular season with winning records and much to be proud of.

Both programs return with starters and will look to build going into the next season.

As you can see, there were some great moments for IUP fall athletics throughout this past semester.

Winning has become an expectation for IUP sports programs.

Fans are rightfully excited but should not take that success for granted.

Sports

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IUP looks to keep up winning streak going into winter break Crimson Hawks move up to No. 7 in latest national rankings

MATT GLOVER

Lead Sports Writer htpz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The No. 7 IUP men’s basketball team has a cold winter ahead of it, but things are just heating up on the court.

The Crimson Hawks moved up two spots to No. 7 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Top 25.

This ranking is coming off a 5-0 streak to begin the season-winning four at home and one away.

The last four wins have come with 90 or more points on the board with as much as a 52-point margin.

This strong start to the season has pushed the team from 18th to seventh in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll and landed third on the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) national poll.

“Me, personally,” guard Dave Morris (redshirt junior, kinesiology, health and sport science) said, “I try to tell the team not to pay attention to those rankings. We started off 18th, and we all know what we’re capable of being and what our main goal is, so we can’t let that distract us.”

The only team above the Hawks that they will see before playoffs is Mercyhurst, which is ranked third.

IUP will play Mercyhurst twice later in the season at home and away.

The starting five have been a powerhouse lately with guard Armoni Foster (redshirt junior, criminal justice) earning a triple-double in the 97-45 victory against Virginia State last week.

He scored 22 points with a career-high 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

“Armoni is that type of player,” Morris said. “He does it all. That’s what I expect from him. He’s the best player in the country in DII in my eyes. He’s a winner and a team player.”

Foster has earned this triple-double along with two double-doubles in his first five games.

“I try not to get too high about my accomplishments or too low about my failures,” Foster said.

“My first triple-double felt good, and I owe it all to my teammates.

“I wish my grandmother was here to see it, but I know she’s in my heart and would tell me to keep going and play my best.”

This was the first triple-double the team has earned since Malik Miller scored 20 points with 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a win against Edinboro in February 2019.

Before that, Bowie State could not stop guard Shawndale Jones (redshirt senior, communications media) as he shot 16-28 for 37 points, the most scored by an IUP player since Brandon Norfleet scored 38 against Seton Hill in January 2016.

Jones also came out of that game with six rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Forward Tommy Demogerontas (redshirt fifth year, business) also posted career highs with 23 points and 15 rebounds. This was his second double-double of the year and his fourth in eight games.

Against Le Moyne, the team won 106-67 – a 39-point margin – but Morris came out early in the second half with an outer knee injury.

“I had come down awkwardly on my knee,” Morris said.

“Luckily, it was just a bruise, so I took time off. It’s still a day-by-day rehab to get it back stronger.”

“It’s always fun to play with David,” Foster said. “He brings a different type of energy to our team, and everyone can tell. He is a brother to me, and I enjoy playing with him.”

The team is averaging 97.8 points through its first five games, and all five starters are averaging in the double digits.

This weekend, the Hawks will travel to Kutztown on Friday and then West Chester on Saturday.

Both games will begin at 7:30 p.m.

“Playing basketball over winter break is a weird feeling at first,” Foster said, “but our community does a good job of coming out to support us.”

“Our plan these upcoming games is to keep doing what we’re doing,” Morris said. “We’re still hungry and not satisfied: taking every game one at a time and learning from them to get better. With us being a top team, we’re going to get everyone’s best game.

“I want to do whatever it takes to help [Foster] get a national championship, and that’s our main goal as a team.”

(Cam Horning/IUP Athletics) IUP, the No. 1-ranked team in the media’s regional rankings, tallying all six first-place votes.

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December 3, 2021

Sports

Sports

December 3, 2021

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Women’s basketball looks ahead to PSAC play going into winter break MATT GLOVER

Lead Sports Writer htpz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The 6-0 IUP women’s basketball team will begin its winter break this weekend by taking its hot streak to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents.

The Crimson Hawks have been on fire lately beginning their season 6-0. The team is averaging 73.8 points per game.

This win steak against tough, non-conference opponents has boosted the team from 12th to 10th in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll, and from 11th to 10th in the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) women’s basketball poll.

“The team moral has increased,” guard Courtney Alexan-

der (redshirt senior, nursing) said.

“It feels good to be going into our first conference games as an undefeated team, but I don’t think I would contribute that to the polls.

“We simply see that with each game we are improving, gaining more confidence and playing better together.”

The PSAC opponent to watch out for will be Gannon, which is ranked sixth in the Atlantic region, seventh in the WBCA poll and one place above IUP in the D2SIDA poll.

IUP and Gannon will meet twice during the regular season.

In the last outing against Ohio Dominican, the No. 8 team in the Atlantic region, Alexander scored a career-high 24 points.

She also recorded five three-pointers, two defensive rebounds, two assists and a block.

“Courtney is a green-light shooter,” forward Maura D’Anna

(redshirt senior, physical education) said. “She has the ability and confidence to knock down her shot with no hesitation.”

This was a wake-up call for Alexander as she continues her journey recovering from the ACL surgery she had nine months ago.

“That game certainly boosted my confidence,” Alexander said.

“I had to make a decision to not let my mindset be my biggest opponent; now that I see what I’m capable of after surgery, I feel a lot more free.”

Alexander also attributes her confidence and success to her coaches.

Five Hawks in that game shot in the double digits, and the team shot 53 percent with nine more rebounds than its opponent.

In the previous game against Salem, 11 Hawks made baskets with five scoring in the double digits.

The first half was one of the

worst the team has played this season with seven three-pointers and 32 points allowed. The team escaped the half leading by just four points.

Salem lost the game with 58 points, the most the team has allowed this season.

However, the Hawks came into the second half ready to turn it around.

They switched from zone to a man-to-man defense which brought Salem’s scoring percentage from 34.5 percent in the first half to 27.6 percent in the second.

Their three-pointer percentage also came down from 38.9 to 11.1.

“As Coach McConnell would say, ‘Man-to-man is our bread and butter,’” Alexander said.

“We always say our defense creates our offense,” D’Anna said.

“We work on both man-to-man and zone in practice so we are prepared for whatever style our

opponents play us.”

D’Anna is off to the best start of her career scoring more than 60 percent of her shots with an average of 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

“Since the season ending in 2019,” she said, “I knew that the next season would be my final one. With that in mind, I’ve been working on my game to make this season the most impactful yet.”

Alexander added that in the past D’Anna probably would never have shot a three-pointer in a game. This year is different.

“Her rebounding, especially on offense, can often give us the spark we need,” Alexander said.

“She has been solid for us all around and a vocal leader on the court.”

The team will play at Kutztown on Friday and West Chester on Saturday. Both games begin at 5:30 p.m.

(Leon Chuck/IUP Athletics) The Hawks have won nine straight PSAC openers dating back to the 2011-12 season.

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Swimming looks ahead to hosting Clarion on Dec. 11 BEN SPRIGGS Staff Writer dzbbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

IUP swimming continues to roll through its season.

With a 3-0 record, the women’s side remains undefeated in team competition.

The team earned victories against Shippensburg, Edinboro and Saint Vincent to start its season.

A couple of weeks ago, the women also competed in the Magnus Cup at Cleveland State where they finished seventh out of 11 on days one and two, and sixth out of 11 on day three.

They will be back in action this Saturday against Gannon University at 11 a.m. in the Pidgeon Natatorium.

Following that meeting they will again be hosts when they welcome Clarion University to the Pidgeon on Dec. 11 at noon.

Swimmers will then enjoy their winter break and return to competition on Jan. 15.

That return will start off with a long bus ride to Detroit, Mi., where they will face off against Wayne State University in team play.

Next will be two straight road invitationals.

The first being the Pidgeon Memorial Invitational that will take place over two days in York, Pa., at the Keystone Aquatics Center on Jan. 21-22.

IUP women’s swimming will then travel to the Clarion University Diving Invitational on Feb. 4.

The Clarion Invitational will wrap up team play for the year.

Qualifying individuals will then compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships in mid-February in York, Pa., and NCAA championships in Greensboro, Nc., in early March.

On the other hand, IUP men’s swimming has also found success so far this season.

It currently holds a 2-1 overall record in team competition.

Following an opening season loss to Shippensburg, the men bounced back with wins against Edinboro and Saint Vincent.

They finished sixth out of seven

at the Cleveland Magnus Cup on the first day and improved to fifth place on days two and three.

Next meet for the men is this Saturday against Gannon University in the Pidgeon Natatorium at noon.

They will then follow the same schedule as the women’s team: hosting Clarion, traveling to Wayne State and then finally the Clarion Diving Invitational.

Qualifying men swimmers will then compete in both the PSAC and NCAA championships.

IUP’s swimming program is led by head coach Chris Villa.

Villa is in his 15th season at the helm and has had much success.

Under his watch, the Hawks have set 84 new marks and he has sent teams to a combined 19 NCAA championships.

He was previously the women’s assistant swimming coach at the Naval Academy.

Villa is a graduate of Hartwick University and has been a guest coach at many Division I swim programs.

IUP swimming is obviously in good hands and will look to continue its success into the early spring.

(Natasha Munday/IUP Athletics) IUP swimming will look to impress in its next meet.