9.28.21

The Penn

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

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VOL. 114 NO. 10

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N E W S IUP’s 2021 Crimson Court selected News Editor: Benjamin Brumbaugh – msqy@iup.edu

BEN BRUMBAUGH News Editor msqy@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP’s Crimson Court for this year’s Homecoming has been selected and will feature some of the university’s most active and involved students.

The students on the court were selected based on a student vote and will act as representatives of their colleges.

The members of the Crimson Court will participate in the Homecoming parade and will be honored before and after the Homecoming football game.

Students must have a 3.0 gradepoint average and be in good standing with the university in order to qualify for the court.

The court typically includes students who are engaged at the university both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities.

Anastasia Ksenia Benc (junior, psychology) was selected to represent the College of Health and Human Services.

“When I learned that I had been selected to be on the Homecoming court, I was ecstatic,” Benc said.

“To be part of a small group of young women and men selected to represent their particular college is probably going to be one of the greatest honors I will ever enjoy as an IUP student.”

Benc is very involved both academically and otherwise at IUP. “I am a member of the Cook Honors College and have been on the Dean’s List every semester since I started,” Benc said. “Currently, I serve as vice president of philanthropy for Delta Zeta national sorority at IUP.” Benc works as a Stapleton Library student assistant and is also a member of the Phi Eta Sigma national honor society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Orthodox Christian Fellowship club, and the secretary of an on-campus political organization.

Benc plans to pursue an advanced degree in psychology after

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she graduates from IUP. Makenzie Fello (senior, secondary math education) will represent the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Science and Mathematics.

“I am so honored to represent the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and, more specifically, the math department,” Fello said.

Fello is the Commit to Fit Chair at the Special Olympics Club at IUP. She has completed research at the university with Dr. Janet Walker (mathematics) on parametric equations that was entered into the 2021 Scholars Forum.

After she graduates from IUP, Fello intends to become a math teacher in a middle school or high school.

Kaylee Long (junior, social studies education) was chosen to represent the College of Arts and Humanities.

“So often had I felt like I had been doing so much between clubs, classes and leadership in organizations, and to be finally recognized for all of that just felt so exciting,” Long said.

“It means a lot to represent my college in this way.”

Long is the president of the History and Social Studies Education Club and is the New Member Educator for Gamma Sigma Sigma which is a service/social sorority on campus.

Long hopes to become a middle school social studies teacher after she graduates from the university.

Mackenzie Mead (senior, communications media marketing) will represent the College of Education and Communications on the court.

“I love my department, and it feels so great to get a chance to represent it,” Mead said.

Mead is currently a resident assistant in Stephenson Hall and is a peer mentor for the University College.

This summer, she was a student success leader for new student orientation, and Mead is also the secretary and public relations chair for Theta Phi Alpha.

After she concludes her internship in summer 2022, Mead hopes to acquire a job in the world of social media.

Katarina Noll (senior, criminology and psychology) was voted by students to represent the College of Health and Human Services.

“It means that the student body chose me which makes me feel prideful to be the representative [of my college],” Noll said.

Noll is involved in various extracurricular activities on campus.

She is a Crimson Scholars peer mentor and an Honors College orientation leader.

Noll is also a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, Phi Gamma Nu Business Fraternity, Order of Omega Honor Society, Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, professional development chair in Zeta Tau Alpha, treasurer in the IUP women’s club soccer team, the National Society of Leadership and Success, IUP Ambassadors, and the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society.

After she graduates from IUP, Noll will attend graduate school for

her doctorate in clinical psychology or school psychology. Her dream school is Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Jayden Thomas (junior, marketing) will represent the Eberly College of Business on the Crimson Court.

“To be a Crimson Court member is an opportunity for me to show others the importance of making the most of your experience as a student,” Thomas said.

Thomas is involved academically and with several extracurricular activities at the university.

He is a member of the Eberly Strategic Planning Committee and is the chapter president of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Thomas is also a member of the men’s track and field team and is an IUP Ambassador.

After he graduates from IUP, Thomas will enter the business field to specialize in marketing. His goal is to become a marketing manager and executive.

Finally, Ashley Yanni (sophomore, exploratory) is representing the University College.

“I’m very appreciative to be able to represent my college and to have been recommended for the position on the Crimson Court,” Yanni said.

Yanni is interested in early childhood education. She intends to teach after she graduates from the university.

“I’m very excited to pursue my goals in teaching young children and giving them a significant foundation on having a successful future,” Yanni said.

Yanni has been on the Dean’s List during each of her semesters at IUP and is also a member of the National Honor Society.

The members of the Crimson Court will participate in various activities during this year’s Homecoming.

“As a member of the Crimson Court, you are expected to attend and have a social presence during the festivities of Homecoming [week],” Thomas said.

For more information about IUP’s Homecoming festivities, students can visit https://www.iup.edu/ homecoming/.

(iup.edu) The 2021 Crimson Court from left to right: Kaylee Long, Katarina Noll, Mackenzie Mead, Jayden Thomas, Anastasia Benc, Ashley Yanni and Makenzie Fello.

September 28, 2021

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September 28, 2021

News

(iup.edu) This year’s IUP Homecoming Parade will be on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. According to https://www.iup.edu/events/mcsle/2021/10/iup-homecoming-parade.html, “The parade will start at 11th and Philadelphia streets and travel east to Sixth and Philadelphia streets, south on Sixth Street to Church Street, west on Church Street to Oakland Avenue and southwest on Oakland Avenue to 11th Street where the parade will end.”

IUP Homecoming 2021 preview

Events include annual parade, concert at KCAC RACHEL KOVACH Staff Writer rsrbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP’s Homecoming will commence this weekend, and students can participate in several events to celebrate the occasion.

“Students will find many events planned over Homecoming that will provide great opportunities to connect with one another or to make some connections with alumni who have returned to campus,” Chris Noah, IUP’s chief marketing officer, said.

According to https://www.iup. edu/homecoming/, there will be a Fireside Chat with the Black Experience Alumni Committee in the Great Room in the Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Also on Thursday, the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) presents the Homecoming 2021 concert of Lil Yachty with special guest Social House in the Kovalchick Convention Athletic Complex (KCAC). Doors open for the concert at 7 p.m.

On Friday, there will be a Homecoming Happy Hour at Levity Brewing Co. in Indiana from 4 p.m.

to 6 p.m. for alumni, faculty, and IUP’s junior and senior students.

Additionally, BACCHUS Bingo will be taking place in the Hadley Union Building Ohio Room from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On Saturday, the IUP Homecoming Parade will be starting at 10 a.m., and it will take place on Philadelphia Street. The parade will go until 11:30 a.m.

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., two different events will be taking place. Alumni and Friends Crimson Huddle at Homecoming will be a tailgate event with a full buffet and an assortment of drinks.

The second event happening at this time will be Homecoming with the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics and Engineering. This event will take place at the College of Natural Science and Mathematics tables in the tailgate area.

Starting at 2 p.m. is the IUP versus Gannon game in George P. Miller Stadium.

Also on Saturday is the Homecoming Late Night Party from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. in the KCAC. Trivia, bingo and karaoke will be featured at this event.

On Sunday, Homecoming cleanup will be taking place around

Indiana Borough from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Student volunteers from multiple campus organizations will be the ones participating.

Later that day, the IUP Wind Ensemble Homecoming Concert will be taking place in Fisher Auditorium from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“We are just happy to be back in person this year for Homecoming,” Noah said.

“We are pleased to get back to the type of events that we have traditionally held for this weekend.”

This year, many campus traditions and activities are making their return after being affected by COVID-19 restrictions last year.

Many of IUP’s Homecoming traditions stay the same from year to year; for example, the parade has been a tradition for a long time at IUP. “The parade is one of IUP’s biggest traditions,” Noah said.

Homecoming is a celebration of IUP’s students and alumni. Students can connect with alumni during the festivities.

“Homecoming celebrates IUP alumni and welcomes them back to campus to connect with friends, current students, and faculty and staff,” Noah said.

There are still changes from year

to year.

“One difference this year is that we will be celebrating the class of 2020 at our Crimson Huddle in the KCAC,” Noah said.

Brianna Drylie, Assistant Director Program Coordination, Communication and Assessment for IUP’s Center for Multicultural Leadership and Engagement, has been coordinating the Homecoming parade since 2013.

“The parade has been a long-standing tradition for decades,” Drylie said. “This year’s parade theme is decades, and we will have four floats designed and built by our Greek student organizations.

“The floats are from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.”

More information about this year’s Homecoming and coinciding events can be found at https:// www.iup.edu/homecoming/.

(iup.edu) Homecoming 2021 marks the return of in-person festivities after last year was affected by COVID-19 restrictions and concerns.

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September 28, 2021

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

15% OFF All Apparel 25% OFF All Imprinted IUP Gifts Book signing: Saturday, October 2 from 11:30AM - 1:30PM • Paul Ricci, IUP alum and author • Paul Estronza La Violette, local author at Annabelle Books in Blairsville THE HUB COMPLEX ON THE IUP CAMPUS www.IUPstore.com 724•357•3145 @IUPcoopstore Weekend Hours: SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11 am - 3 pm

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September 28, 2021

News

Arizona election audit concludes Reports from audit find no evidence of voter fraud 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.

A Republican-backed investigation of the 2020 presidential election in Arizona came to a close Sept. 24. Reports show no evidence of voter fraud.

For the past 10 months, former president Donald Trump (R-Fla.) and a percentage of the Repub-

lican Party have been spreading claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Thus far, evidence shows that those claims are false; nonetheless, politicians nationwide continue to push for recounts and audits.

The Arizona vote audit has been one of most controversial efforts in investigating the election results. Efforts to implement this audit have been partisan and Cyber Ninjas, the company chosen to conduct the audit, has never performed any electoral investigation before.

Controversy spiked at even higher levels after the Cyber Ninjas’ CEO Doug Logan expressed his belief in conspiracy theories, claiming that the CIA was behind voter misinformation and fraud.

Prior to being hired to conduct

(picyl.com) Former president Donald Trump has repeated unsubstantiated claims of fraud since the 2020 presidential election.

the audit, Logan had expressed the belief that the election was stolen. Many feared that a partisan investigation conducted by a biased person could interfere with the transparency of the audit.

“I’m tired of hearing people say there was no fraud,” Logan said in a tweet. “It happened, it is real and people better get wise fast.”

Now, after six months of the investigation, the report released by the Cyber Ninjas shows

that the claim of voter fraud in favor of President Joe Biden (D-Del.) is false.

Furthermore, the New York Times reported that the investigation found the exact opposite of Trump’s claims.

The Cyber Ninjas’ recount tallied 261 fewer votes for Trump and 99 additional votes for Biden. This means that not only Biden won the state but won by a larger margin than originally reported.

Republicans in the state have not yet contested the result of the

(flickr.com) Karen Fann is a Republican member of the Arizona Senate who represents Arizona Legislative District 1.

investigation and most likely will not since it was an audit advocated for and requested by them.

“Truth is truth, and numbers are numbers,” Karen Fann (R-Ariz.), the Arizona Senate president who commissioned the vote review, said.

Many criticize the review as a waste of time and money. Although the review was conducted by a private company, the money used to fund it was public money since it was an action taken by the Arizona government.

Others also point out that the effort seemed to be a mere stunt to reduce the American public’s trust in the electoral system.

“We haven’t learned anything new,” Matt Masterson, a top U.S. election security official in the Trump administration, said.

“What we have learned from all this is that the Ninjas were paid millions of dollars, politicians raised millions of dollars and Americans’ trust in democracy is lower.”

Trump, however, does not seem shaken by the results of the recount in Arizona. Saturday night, he held a rally in Georgia in which he claimed that the results of the audit supported his claim of election fraud; how Trump will prove his new claims remains unknown.

While the audit marks the end of the first chapter of the drama surrounding the 2020 election, the drama is far from over. There are currently three investigations happening in the state of Wisconsin.

This Friday, Republicans in Texas launched an investigation despite Trump winning the state.

Pennsylvania has also greenlit an investigation in the state, but it has not made any progress yet due to a continuous power struggle over which Republican would lead it. Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) has sued the party in an attempt to block it.

Only time will tell when the drama surrounding the 2020 elections will finally come to a conclusion, and most believe that it might extend all the way until the 2022 midterm elections occur in November 2022.

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September 28, 2021

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Northpointe campus may be sold Negotiations continue with third party TANNER SCHELL Staff Writer dsqcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP’s Northpointe campus may be sold or transferred to another party.

The transfer or sale of the property was unanimously approved by the IUP Council of Trustees six months ago.

Negotiations began June 2021 with an interested party.

“The IUP at Northpointe campus provides regional students who are interested in earning a degree the opportunity to achieve that goal close to home,” Chris Noah, chief marketing officer, said.

Northpointe was established in 1963 along McKean Street in Kittanning and then was relocated in 2005, near Freeport, for mixeduse development, where it sits today.

The building and grounds total 5.43 acres. It is located at 167 Northpointe Boulevard, Freeport.

It will remain in use for classes, including current course offerings for several bachelor's degree programs and upper-level classes for students in the Respiratory Care bachelor's degree program.

Students can begin any major at the Northpointe campus and can complete an associate degree in general studies or bachelor’s degrees in communications

media, management or marketing Education (PASSHE) guidance available to the IUP community. an attempt by the university to through in-person classes at the to reduce underutilized facility The university is seeking $20 combat a drop in enrollment Northpointe campus and through square footage and, with univermillion from Harrisburg for new numbers at the university. These online classwork. sity efforts, to eliminate unnecconstruction in 2025-26 after $2 changes are meant to cut costs “The university began offering essary, facility-related overhead million in state capital spending is and to entice future students upper-division respiratory care expenses,” Noah said. put toward demolition at Punxto choose IUP for their college courses at IUP's Northpointe camIt remains to be seen what will sutawney during the 2021-2022 education. pus in fall 2017,” Noah said. happen regarding this property academic year.

The transfer or sale of the “Students in the program comand the courses offered through The buildings being created Northpointe campus closely plete the first two years of the cur- it. and demolished align with IUP’s aligns with PASSHE’s goal to elimriculum at the Indiana campus.”

“The transfer or sale of the NextGen agenda which is a inate costs related to facilities that IUP’s bachelor of science in Reproperty will allow IUP to maintain complete reconstruction of the are not in significant use. spiratory Care degree program is a regional presence,” Noah said. academic colleges and programs More information about the taught in two phases. Phase one These discussions are in their to have an overall better stuNorthpointe campus can be is preclinical course work on IUP’s early stages, and as they progress, dent-oriented experience. found at https://iup.campuslabs.

Indiana campus, and phase two more information will become These rapid changes indicate com/engage/event/7229653. is the clinical phase, which is now conducted at the IUP Northpointe regional campus.

“What will happen to the respiratory students?” Hayden Williams (freshman, finance) said.

No details are available on how the relocation of this program will take place.

“The action related to the Northpointe campus reflects Pennsylvania's State (iup.edu) System of Higher The Northpointe campus moved to its current location in 2005. The building is used by IUP for various programs.

Bingo returns in person at HUB Ohio Room

(Alexa Giger/The Penn)

Bingo returned in person to the Hadley Union Building (HUB) Ohio Room on Friday. Students competed against each other to win various prizes. Bingo is offered every Friday in the Ohio Room of the HUB. The games are a great way for students to unwind after a long week of hard work. It is also a great way for students who are newer to IUP to get to know one another and form close friendships. The next bingo event will be held on Friday at the same location.

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September 28, 2021

News

Opinion (Facebook) Gabby Petito is one of thousands of women that have been reported as missing. Tragically, her body was discovered in a Wyoming national park on Sept. 19. Her story has brought attention to many groups like Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA that feel as though their stories have been underrepresented in the media.

Missing woman makes media headlines

Petito’s story opens discussion about underrepresented groups *This article contains sensitive subject matter about missing and murdered women.

268,884 women in the United States in 2020 alone were reported as missing according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

This number represents so many women under and over 21 that have been taken from their families and friends. Their absence leaves a permanent hole in those families’ and friends’ lives. Many of these people never get to see that woman again. Most of the time, only the victim’s body is found.

These women have dreams, aspirations, hobbies and unique personalities. They might have had pets, younger siblings that they helped raise, loving parents and worked in the community.

However, their disappearances have not gained national attention

Opinion

like Gabby Petito’s disappearance did.

In just a few days, she became the face of a national social movement to find where she went and raise awareness of the situation.

Thousands of people were sharing pictures of her face on social media in the hopes that maybe someone saw her and could bring her back home.

She was reported missing on Sept. 11, 2021. Petito’s body was eventually found by authorities on Sept. 19 in a Wyoming national park called Bridger-Teton National Forest. Her death was ruled as a homicide.

The horror of Petito’s story showcases what so many of these missing women might have endured.

What happened to Petito is tragic and should not be taken lightly, but instead of focusing solely on one individual, we

should have the same energy that we had when Petito went missing with all missing women. Not having people searching for the missing individual is heartbreaking for families that experience this situation.

We cannot forget about the other women.

Some women are not even included in these statistics, though.

Countless Black, brown and Native/Indigenous women go missing and are not reported.

On average, Black women are the second largest group after white women to be reported as missing. Some may not even be reported.

A report from the FBI, the 2020 NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics, a report from the FBI, said that 90,333 Black, 5,289 Asian, 5,295 Indigenous and 8,938 “unknown” women were reported as missing.

September 28, 2021

There is little to no media attention for missing women that are not white.

Groups like the Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S) have actively been searching for their women and girls.

In July 2020, a one-year project report about MMIWG2S of northern California reported that 2,306 women went missing within the past 40 years. Sixty percent of those cases were homicides.

Many advocates for these missing women feel as though law enforcement does a poor job at keeping records. There have been reports of racial misclassification, too. Many people of color also feel as though their relationship with law enforcement has been poor and has led to an underreporting of cases.

“Due to Urban Indian Health In-

stitute’s limited resources and poor data collection by numerous cities, the 506 cases identified in this report are likely an undercount of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in urban areas,” a report from Our Bodies, Our Series (UIHI.org) said.

Additionally, the report said that out of the 5,712 cases of MMIWG2S cases only 116 cases were logged by the U.S. Department of Justice’s missing persons database.

In the United States, there is little awareness of just how serious the issue of missing women is. It should not have to take a white woman to motivate us to start caring about all these women. We should and need to maintain this momentum and continue to bring awareness to all these cases.

Brought to you By The Penn Editorial Board

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Culture

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

Students share plans for Homecoming weekend

(The Penn Archives) There are many different events planned for Homecoming 2021 like parties and parades.

LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP With so many different activities during Homecoming weekend, there are a lot of options for IUP students to have a good time.

One may expect students to go to the parade or the concert hosted by the Student Activity Committee (STATIC) featuring Lil Yachty and Social House. Other options for the weekend include the IUP Homecoming football game and the late-night party that will happen at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC).

“I mean, the events sound pretty cool, but I do not think I will be going to them,” Thomas Valcukas (sophomore, biology) said. “I am probably just going to stay inside

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and hang out with some friends.”

Valcukas said that he plans to play games with people and watch movies for that weekend, taking the time to relax rather than go to the Homecoming events. This is a strategy that will likely be done by many students, especially if they are not interested in the concert.

Valcukas also said that, while he is not very interested in the Homecoming events in general, the risk of COVID-19 is pretty high in his opinion. He is nervous that the ability for it to spread will be amplified at the indoor Homecoming events which is another reason why he is choosing to opt out of them.

While there are definitely some students like Valcukas that would rather spend their time not taking part in the Homecoming festivities, there are plenty that plan on attending.

“I do plan on attending the

concert that STATIC is putting on,” Matthew Levenson (sophomore, accounting) said. “I am also probably going to attend the party at the KCAC, but I have not really decided on that yet.”

Levenson said that he is a fan of the music genre that Lil Yachty is in, so he thinks that he will like the concert. This is likely going to be the case for those in attendance.

While liking the music is one cause for wanting to attend the concert, there are other reasons to want to participate.

“I have not been able to go to a live concert in over a year,” Isaac Ryer (sophomore, nursing) said. “I have been really missing them, so I think I just want to be able to see live music again and experience the crowd and be in that situation again because I miss the feeling.”

The feeling that Ryer has is not foreign to students. So many students have not been able to attend

September 28, 2021

in-person concert events since the first couple months of 2020, so it will be nice for some to be able to get back into the swing of live performances.

If one is not interested in the concert or staying in, there are also other options to take part in that can make the weekend more interesting.

Students can choose to take the weekend to leave IUP and return home for a brief period. Taking a break could prove to be good for students as a change in environment can make someone more invigorated and engaged when they return to IUP. Students could also take the time to go to restaurants with friends and spend time relaxing with a group of people. While there are merits to taking time to unwind over the weekend alone, the social benefit of spending time with friends can lead to more fun

memories and experiences which will make the stay at IUP more memorable.

With so many alternative choices for the IUP community to take part in, there will be a lot to experience for Homecoming 2021. If you are interested in seeing any other events that will be taking place, IUP’s website, https://www.iup. edu/homecoming/, has a listing for every event that will be available to do over the entire Homecoming weekend.

Whether you are planning to stay indoors and watch movies or attend the concert and other Homecoming events, make sure you stay safe and sanitary.

The pandemic is still in effect.

The Penn wishes you a happy Homecoming and return to in-person festivities and events. Be sure to stay safe to ensure that everyone can all stay on campus for the whole academic year.

Culture

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September 28, 2021

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(Lane Lannan/The Penn) Squirrels are native to this region of Pennsylvania with them normally being very abundant.

Case of missing rodents

Students notice lack of squirrels during beginning of fall season

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.

Something is missing from the Oak Grove.

The squirrels that once populated the Oak Grove should be out gathering nuts to prepare themselves for winter. Usually, squirrels spend the fall season stashing food in their nests, so they do not have to go out when it is cold. This sudden disappearance is concerning considering that it is just the start of fall, so they should not be hiding yet.

The last report of a squirrel sighting was at Whitmyre Hall.

This leaves only one question: Are the squirrels hiding out in the Chamber of Secrets? The Chamber’s entrance was recently discovered at Whitmyre. It is rumored to be the home of a dangerous serpent.

“It’s so weird that the squirrel just, I guess, disappeared,” Rich-

ard Cat (senior, pre-veterinary, biology) said.

“I used to go outside every day and just sit in the Oak Grove and watch them run around and climb the trees. Sometimes I would chase them when nobody was looking. Maybe they got sick of me, or I scared them away.”

This is odd, though. The squirrels are accustomed to student life. Last year, even though there were fewer students on campus, the squirrels would still run up to people and sometimes in front of them while they were walking.

“One time, when my girlfriend, Amelia, and I were walking to the library, one ran in front of me and I almost fell over,” Joseph Brown (senior, political science) said. “It was embarrassing.”

Some students believe that the squirrels at IUP might have never been real. These students claim that the squirrels might have been just some cute-looking, spy robots with cameras in their eyes. Students claim that this would explain why squirrels are so accustomed to the daily lives of students; after all, when did nature start to adapt its way around IUP? Some believe that the squirrels might be missing because someone is slowly replacing them with the robots in the Chamber.

Other students have pointed out the possibility that the squirrels might have been robots all along, and now are getting either their batteries replaced or their foot-

age transferred to a hard drive to clean up storage.

One way or another, students wholeheartedly believe that the squirrels on the Oak Grove are not real squirrels.

“Now I am no squirrel expert, but I did take a biology class last year, so I think I know what a squirrel looks like and whatever is in the Oak Grove is definitely not a squirrel,” Matt Smith (junior, Earth and space science education) said.

“I saw a tweet the other day about birds not being real, and, just like birds, I am more than willing to bet that the government is replacing squirrels with robots to spy on us. I just wish they could share what Amelia has been up to without me; I miss her a lot.”

If the once-beloved squirrels are government-controlled robotic spies or real squirrels, it is up to the students to decide. It is advised to be cautious if approached by one of the creatures.

(Squirells of IUP/Instagram) Even the Instagram account “Squirrels of IUP” has noticed the lower number of squirrels appearing in places like the Oak Grove.

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September 28, 2021

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Culture

September 28, 2021

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Students decorate doors for fall

(Eva Tillich/The Penn) As is somewhat of a small tradition at IUP, some students took time to decorate their dorm room doors.

While some doors are more decorated than others, they each have individuality and spirit.

A large majority of the doors are decorated in preparation for the beginning of Halloween while others are decorated with standard fall-looking decorations. Door decorating is one way that students can make their dorm feel more unique and less plain.

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Culture

Freshmen speak to first full month at IUP Reveal favorite activities, places to go

(IUP) Since Homecoming 2021 is in person, many events are returning.

Recounting traditions of IUP Homecoming LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Considering the variety of Homecoming events through both the virtual and in-person events, the question becomes what the key Homecoming traditions are.

Despite the online-only setting that Homecoming 2020 was forced to take, 2021 sees Homecoming return to what it once was. With that in mind, below lists some of the most popular Homecoming traditions in order to see what could make a return in the 2021 events.

T-Shirt Designing One thing that some students may not know about is the tradition of making a Homecoming shirt. In the past years, organizations and student groups have designed fun shirts that can show jokes or references to popular culture. For example, the American Marketing Association paid tribute to Mac Miller through a shirt design.

Homecoming Parade The IUP Homecoming Parade is a staple of the weekend events. The parade takes place on Philadelphia Street and gives the chance for different clubs, fraternities, sororities and organizations to make floats and have a good time promoting its group to the IUP community and the student body. While there are rules that have to be followed by attendees and participants, it is an opportunity for students to see any clubs that they may have missed during events like IUP Day.

STATIC Concert The Student Activity Committee’s (STATIC) yearly Homecoming concert strives to bring an entertaining show to IUP. Artists like DaBaby and D Smoke have been featured over the past couple of years. Lil Yachty will join their ranks as he is the 2021 Homecoming headliner right beside Social House.

Football Game

No homecoming is complete without a football game, and this is no different at IUP. The IUP football team strives to always win, but Homecoming adds pressure due to the appraised and well-acknowledged occasion. Whether you are a student or a member of the greater IUP community, be sure to cheer on the Crimson Hawks as they take on Gannon University for the 2021 Homecoming football game.

KCAC Late-Night Party

If students are interested in getting out and having a good time, then the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex (KCAC) is the place to be. The annual late-night party features activities like trivia and karaoke; all of which serve to make a notable night for students.

The party runs from around 9 p.m. to midnight, so students are in for a long and eventful night. Whether it is the party from 2019 or the party for 2021, the KCAC late-night party is always a Homecoming staple.

LANE LANNAN Culture Editor ffpcc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Classes are one month in, and upperclassmen have adjusted as they do, but what about the freshmen?

The freshmen class is new to IUP, so the students may be having a harder time adjusting to university life. Despite that, things seem to be going smoothly for new students.

“So far, classes have been really good,” Sydney Bower (freshman, political science) said.

“I love being independent, and I feel like I can finally be my own person because I have my own space.”

Bower went to say that things have not been too hard yet, factoring in the 16-credit workload for classes she is in this semester.

It is good to see that freshmen are adjusting to in-person classes.

“Classes have been going well so far,” Emma Naugle (freshman, early childhood education)

said. “I enjoy all of my in-person classes but hate doing my online work.”

Naugle added that she was a little disappointed to be scheduled for two online courses after IUP announced the university would switch back to in-person instruction. Despite that, Naugle said that while the transition from home to college has been weird, it has not been hard at all.

Classes are just one part of being at college. The programs and extracurriculars are also great ways for people to get out and experience the culture of IUP’s campus. Both Bower and Naugle have taken this in stride.

“I have joined a ton of clubs,” Naugle said. “The English Equestrian Team, the Sign Language Club, Best Buddies and Council for Exceptional Children are some of them.”

Naugle also said that she loves the therapy dog nights. Getting to see the dogs is rewarding not only because they are cute and fun to be around, but it also helps her relax and be able to take a break from her usual college schedule.

In the case of Bower, the story

is similar.

“I have joined multiple clubs,” Bower said. “My favorite is the radio station because I get to do a punk rock segment once a week.”

Bower went on to say that living on campus and experiencing the community is another aspect that she loves. Getting to interact with so many people all over campus is something she enjoys doing and sees as a benefit of being on campus.

Both Bower and Naugle expressed that their favorite place to be on campus is the Oak Grove as is likely the case for a vast majority of the student body.

In the case of Naugle, she likes it because it is just peaceful and a good place to sit and think with a clear mind. For Bower, it is also a nice place to relax.

It is good to hear positive feedback from IUP’s freshmen class about their switch to college life. To any freshmen that takes the time to read this, The Penn wishes you a good remainder of the semester as well as a great freshman year and college life. Good luck.

Crimson Court

Every year, the IUP student body picks representatives from the different colleges on campus. These representatives participate in the parade and events before the football game as well as recognized during half-time. The Crimson Court for the 2021 Homecoming is Anastasia Ksenia Benc for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makenzie Fello for the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Kaylee Long for the College of Arts and Humanities, Mac Mead for the College of Education and Communications, Katarina Noll for the College of Health and Human Services, Jayden Thomas for the Eberly College of Business and Ashley Yanni for University College.

While there are many other traditions that have occurred over the long history of the IUP Homecoming, these are some of the big ones to get students excited for the weekend. Make sure to have a good Homecoming with all the different events that are planned to take place and stay safe while doing so.

(Lane Lannan/The Penn) While adjusting to campus life, freshmen have been exploring campus and finding new interests.

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September 28, 2021

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Sports

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

Woodbery leads Crimson Hawks to victory Puts up five touchdowns against Mercyhurst Lakers

BEN SPRIGGS Staff Writer dzbbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Last weekend brought the results of a tough IUP football loss to the hands of a very talented and offensively skilled No. 11 Shepherd Rams opponent.

That outcome differed Saturday in regard to both the final result and personnel on the field that contributed towards it.

The Hawks handily defeated Mercyhurst University by a score of 48-13.

One major change was the starting quarterback for IUP. Harry Woodbery (graduate student, business administration) was calling the offense for the Hawks on Saturday.

Woodberry transferred to IUP in the summer from Eastern Illinois with the intention of competing for the starting quarterback role.

On his previous team, Woodberry appeared in 27 games and made 12 starts under center for the Panthers.

Woodbery played a fantastic game in his first start as a Crimson Hawk, completing 15 of 22 passing attempts for 146 yards and four touchdowns along with a rushing touchdown to combine for five total against the Lakers.

He took care of the ball and threw zero interceptions.

IUP head coach Paul Tortorella spoke about his quarterback's performance.

“Harry was very impressive in his first game with only three days of practice,” Tortorella said.

Fellow quarterback Javon Davis (redshirt sophomore, accounting and math education) started the first two games of the year for the Hawks and also performed very well.

Tortorella explained the reasoning behind changing quarterbacks this week.

“Woodbery was more efficient during the week of practice so we felt he should get the start,” Tortorella said.

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(IUP Athletics) The IUP football team is one of four teams in the PSAC that rank in the top 25 nationally.

Woodbery was not available in week one due to COVID-19 protocols and did not play in week two.

In addition to the high yardage thrown through the air, catching the ball is also a significant part of the equation.

The tight end room for the Hawks shined in this game, hauling in three touchdowns in the first half as a unit.

Cam Suman (redshirt sophomore, management information systems) scored two of those touchdowns for the tight ends.

One came via a reception and the other on a special teams play.

Tortorella spoke on that play.

“I thought our special teams were very good and got us off to a great start with the blocked punt for our first touchdown,”

September 28, 2021

Tortorella said.

Grant Smith (junior, exercise science) tallied the third touchdown for the group.

Wide receiver Irvin Charles (redshirt senior, unclassified) also compiled 44 receiving yards and a touchdown in the victory.

The offensive attack for the Hawks was balanced.

They were also able to success-

fully establish a running game on the ground. Dayjure Stewart (redshirt freshman, kinesiology) ran for 98 yards on 18 attempts along with Malik Anderson (redshirt senior, school of continuing education) going for 54 yards on just five attempts.

“We were very efficient both throwing and running, so we had great balance,” Tortorella said.

The win came at a good time for the team. This week marked the beginning of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) portion of the schedule for the Hawks.

This game, along with all that follow, is very significant in the end of year playoff calculations.

In addition to an explosion of points from the offense, the defensive unit played extremely sound.

Defensive back Darius Bruce (freshman, academic affairs) and linebacker Malachi Newell (graduate student, school of continuing education) led the defense, accounting for five solo tackles each.

It was a great win, but things should be put into perspective.

IUP football will face much harsher competition down the line in its schedule.

The Mercyhurst Lakers have fallen on hard times.

The team has now lost its opening four games of the 2021 season. Mercyhurst has failed to score more than 20 points in any of those four games.

This may be part of the reason why the Hawks dropped from No. 24 to tied for No. 25 in the national rankings.

For IUP football, led by Tortorella, the journey continues this coming Saturday. The Hawks will return to campus to host the Gannon University Knights on a highly anticipated weekend.

This weekend will include Homecoming festivities for IUP, and this matchup between IUP and Gannon will be a great way for the Indiana faithful to support their Crimson Hawks.

The Homecoming game will be at 2 p.m. at George P. Miller Stadium on Saturday.

Sports

Sports

September 28, 2021

Hawks happy with progress, looking to keep improving Already one game better than 2019 JAY McGARY Staff Writer fwtz@iup.edu @ThePennIUP The season may be halfway over, but the Hawks are not done improving.

The IUP women’s volleyball team sits at 8-8, a .500 record, at its exact halfway point through the season.

This record comes after back-toback Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) losses. The Seton Hill game, the second opponent with conference stakes at hand, was lost by IUP on Friday after an extremely close five-set match.

This resulted in a 7-8 record heading into last Saturday’s game against Shippensburg where the Crimson Hawks propelled themselves back to an even 8-8 record.

After going back and forth with close wins in the first four sets, the IUP women’s volleyball team went off for a 15-6 fifth set victory to defeat Shippensburg 3-2.

This win broke a three-game losing streak for the Hawks and also was a big stepping stone for this squad as it put the Hawks at one more win than the 2019 season in which they went 7-21.

With 16 games left, it is imperative for the Hawks to win the rest of their PSAC-important games if they would like to continue to play into the postseason.

Despite this, it seems that some of the main players on the team, namely outside hitter Nicole Peterson (junior, sports administration) and setter Leah Henderson (sports administration), are simply happy to be back on the court. Having more wins than their 2019 season with half of their games left to play is just a nice bonus.

“Being back on the court feels like a breath of fresh air. We have been waiting for over a year to get back to normality and play volleyball again,” Henderson, who has more assists than the rest of the team combined, said.

“We have a new head coach this season, Coach [Julie] Torbett, and she has been preparing us for our … conference games.”

Henderson commented on how much of an impact a new head

coach can have on not just the program, but the players themselves.

“She has completely changed the course of our program and makes us better players on and off the court every day,” Henderson said. “After the 2019 season, as a team, we had this surge of motivation to win.”

As many athletes know, there really never is an offseason. Continual practice produces results.

“The last six months we have been dedicating ourselves to volleyball with the same goal: to win,” Henderson said. “We have all the pieces to be successful in conference, and we are more than ready to show the other teams what we’ve been preparing for.”

All that effort has culminated in a season which surely has made many of the returning players proud thus far.

The team’s kill-leader, Peterson, also weighs in on the joy of returning to the competitions and how much a new coach has meant to the team.

“It feels great to be back on the court with my teammates,” Peterson said. “We were all eager to compete again especially with a new coach coming in. Coach Torbett has turned this program around and our record so far shows it.

“The 2019 season did not go the way we planned; however, having Coach Torbett join us in the fall of 2020 really motivated us to move on from the past and focus on what is ahead.”

Peterson is impressed with the underclassmen and the roles they have taken during this season.

“Last fall, we had new talent join us and it was disappointing to not compete; however, Coach Torbett brought in a talented class this fall and we all work well together,” Peterson said. “We can’t wait to keep competing this season and are hopeful to end with a winning record.”

Henderson, Peterson and the rest of the team are certainly working to make those dreams a reality.

IUP returns home today to face off against a 2-12 Salem Tigers squad. The teams play at the Memorial Field House in Indiana, Pa., and the game starts at 5 p.m.

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(Contributed by Kaylee Wenderoth) The Hawks had a three-game losing streak in 2019 that spanned from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2. After this three-game skid, the Hawks went on to win their next three matchups.

Hawks break losing skid with offensive showcase against Mountain Cats AUSTIN SMITH Staff Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The streak is now broken, and the IUP Crimson Hawks broke it in style.

The Crimson Hawks women’s soccer team took matters into its own hands over University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ) this weekend and defeated the opposing team by a score of 5-3 at South Campus Field.

IUP holds an overall record of 3-2-1. This win was big for IUP as it signified the end of a three-game losing skid for the Hawks.

Most of the Hawks’ games so far have been low-scoring and close games with no more than two goals scored. This was the

first game of the season where the Hawks put up more than two goals.

Four out of the five goals were scored by Hannah Scardina (sophomore, pre-physical therapy).

Scardina managed to tie an IUP record with most goals in a game.

Teammate Mahogany Willis (senior, communications media) had scored four goals in a game back in the 2019 season.

Any kind of offense would help the Hawks considering they have not been able to score a goal in the last three games. They got shut out against their rival, Slippery Rock. They tied Gannon 0-0 and lost to Edinboro 2-0.

What matters most is the streak is broken and the Hawks were able to keep down the Mountain Cats’ offensive attack.

Scardina, the young forward, utilized her speed advantage amongst others to net the hat-trick plus one. It was a tight game until about the 16th minute when Scardina got IUP on the board.

Shortly after, Kristen Finnerty (sophomore, interior design) gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead and more of a cushion to sit on. Scardina would make it a 4-0 lead going into the half which really sealed the win for IUP. Goalkeeper Samantha Gildner (junior, athletic training) was impressed on how her team performed against UPJ. "I would have to say that we are much more positive around

each other compared to the atmosphere my freshman year,” Gildner said. “There is positivity surrounding this whole team at practice, when we see each other around campus and especially during games.

“I believe that we have the ability to play well together; we just have to build more chemistry with each other on the field.”

In the second half of the game, the Mountain Cats did manage to put up a goal, but Scardina netted her record-tying fourth goal of the game which shut down any hopes of a UPJ comeback.

UPJ would add a few goals late to try to come back, but it was too little, too late for the team and a solid win for the Hawks.

A couple of other players that contributed to the offense were Alayna Ryan (junior, business management) and Natalie DiCureia (senior, physical education and sports exercise) who both tallied assists on Scardina’s goals throughout the game.

The Hawks took the win with flying colors as the whole team came ready to play.

“It was a good win; [we] gave a chance to every player on the team to play,” head coach Adel Heder said.

The Hawks will be looking keep the success going against their next opponent 3-2 Seton Hill on Wednesday in Greensburg, Pa.

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September 28, 2021

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Crimson Hawks lose 0-2 against No. 6 Millersville IUP loses midfielder Elizabeth Clemmer to injury in first half

JEFFERY HART Editor-in-Chief J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP “It was one of those days . . . It is just a bump in the road,” IUP field hockey head coach Gary Agard said after the Hawk’s tough 0-2 loss against No. 6 Millersville.

On Saturday, the Hawks came into the game with their best start since 2008, winning their first five games of the season. This was the conference opener for both IUP and Millersville.

The Hawks were able to hold their own in the first half and held the Marauders scoreless in the first 30 minutes of play.

Things really went wrong when injuries became a factor for IUP. “We lost a critical player during

the first half,” Agard said. “I think that really affected us; we lost what I really call our ‘LeBron’.” She is the catalyst for our offense and defense.”

IUP lost one of its biggest initiators for its offense in Elizabeth “Lizzi” Clemmer (fifth year, nursing) to injury. Her timeline for her return to the field is uncertain right now as the team awaits MRI results this week to see when it will get one of the pivotal players back from injury.

After losing a key player in the middle of their game, the Hawks had to fight an uphill battle against one of the toughest opponents they will face all season.

Despite this tough loss, there

were some positive takeaways from the game. IUP was able to get offensive opportunities as it took nine shots during the game. The Hawks just were not able to capitalize on those opportunities due to stout defense from Millersville.

“We started to make the adjustment, so I think that’s a good thing,” Agard said.

“Millersville is a good team. We wanted to play them our way with our full complement of players.

When Lizzi went down, it really hindered us from how we really wanted to play.”

Even though this will go down as a loss in record books, this will serve as a learning experience for the Hawks that can help propel this

team against the litany of tough opponents they will have to face this season.

“It was kind of tough for them to make the right adjustments for us to excel,” Agard said. “We played really well in the first half, but we just didn’t sustain it going into the second half.”

IUP will be able to look over the film and take some lessons from this game to apply into the next matchup on Wednesday against 3-4 Slippery Rock.

This will give the Crimson Hawks a chance to get back on track and game plan now knowing they are down one of their key players.

“I always say next man up,” Agard said. “We just have to rebound from this, and somebody needs to step up now. I think we have the players to do this; it’s more

of a tactical adjustment.”

While they may have Slippery Rock on Wednesday, the Hawks cannot help but look ahead to the top-tier opponent they have after The Rock.

The Hawks will have another chance to test their skills against a top-tier opponent on Saturday against No. 2 West Chester.

“I am looking at West Chester a little bit now,” Agard said. “They are highly skilled, so we need to be very disciplined in what we do.”

This week will be pivotal for the Hawks’ success this season. A team is not defined by simply just its wins, but rather how it recovers from its losses.

The Crimson Hawks are looking to have a big recovery against Slippery Rock at George P. Miller Stadium at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

(IUP Athletics) The IUP field hockey team has gone 11-6 in its history against Slippery Rock.