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NEWS

News Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu

Despite retrenchment, professors are still available to support students EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Even with their jobs gone, professors still want to be there for their students.

At IUP, 14 percent of faculty members were retrenched. This was announced by University President Michael Driscoll Oct. 12, and letters were sent out starting Oct. 30.

The announcement led to backlash from not only the faculty, but students and alumni as well. Rallies were held pushing for a change, and the school’s social media was full of angry reactions from the community.

This reaction did not go unnoticed by the retrenched faculty.

For Dr. Michele Papakie, it was “overwhelming.”

“It warmed my heart at a time when my heart was broken,” she said.

Papakie is chairperson of IUP’s Journalism and Public Relations Department as well as an alumna of the school. She had taught with IUP for 14 years before she received word that not only was she being retrenched, but her colleagues were, too.

For her, the announcement came as a huge shock. The journalism department was supposed to have merged with the communications media department starting in the next academic year.

“The chancellor’s charge is to get to a 20:1 ratio,” she said.

“The merger with communications media addressed that and solved that problem because we had too few students and too many professors. They had the opposite problem.”

The ratio Papakie mentioned was set by Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Daniel Greenstein.

The ratio was set to the numbers of the 2010-11 school year.

The journalism and public relations department will still be merging, but it will face much bigger class sizes. With approximately 515 students and eight

News

IUP announced Oct. 12 that 14 percent of faculty would be retrenched. professors, the ratio will be 64:1.

This is three times higher than the expectations ask for.

To have communications media professors teach journalism students will be an obstacle according to Papakie. The class sizes will make it even harder.

“How are you student-centered if you don’t have that personalized attention?” Papakie asked.

She said her biggest concerns were with the students. She is sad that she will not be able to teach them as planned.

Since receiving the news, Papakie said she has found it difficult to grade papers or even get through the day, but she would continue to try for her students.

“My focus has to remain on current students,” she said. “I can’t let them down, and I won’t let them down.”

Dr. Christine Baker is another professor who has found herself being retrenched. She, like Papakie, is most concerned about her students.

“I'm angry,” she said. “For myself, for the university and for the students.”

Baker has been a history professor at IUP since 2013, earning

a tenured-track position right out of graduate school. For Baker, the idea of retrenchment was not new.

“Retrenchment has been a fear in the back of everyone's head for the last couple of years, as budgets have gotten tighter and tighter,” she said.

Faculty had known since May that there would be changes, but she had not thought her job would be in jeopardy. It was not until she learned of the number of cuts in October that it became a reality.

Starting in the next academic year, IUP will be focusing in its science and math programs.

This has led to high cuts in the

December 9, 2020

(The Penn Archives)

College of Fine Arts and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The two colleges will be merging according to Driscoll.

IUP’s cuts to these areas were a blow to Baker. She said it was a poor decision on the administration’s end.

Much like Papakie, Baker says her biggest concerns come down to the ratio that IUP was going for with students and faculty. It is a standard she found to be “frustrating.”

“The decision to base so many of the cuts on a faculty to student ratio from one of the years with our highest enrollment also seems arbitrary,” Baker said.

She said she understood the need for cuts due to budgeting, but she believed that some of this was to be blamed on the per-credit tuition model that IUP uses.

“It forced our students to judge every penny when deciding on classes,” Baker says. “This meant that students were less likely to take classes that interested them that they didn't need to fulfill graduation requirements.”

This, according to her, was what caused humanities and arts

to be hit the hardest.

Baker received the notice while in Vancouver where she is still residing. She said she now plans to stay in Canada and continue with academia.

Though her specialization does not hold many opportunities in Vancouver, she says she hopes to get into student affairs.

“A lot of universities will also hire people on a contract basis to teach one class here or there that they don't have the full-time personnel to cover otherwise,” she said.

Even if IUP would offer to hire her back, she said at this point, her answer would be “no.”

“I have truly loved this job, this department and our students,” Baker said. “But, over the last couple of years, I have just felt like we have been asked to do more and more with less and less.”

Though Baker said she was hesitant to be more optimistic over changes, Papakie said she has some hope moving forward.

“I asked the president for information,” she said. “I have an obligation to my students. I need answers.”

According to Papakie, she had a chance to meet with IUP’s provost, Timothy Moerland. The meeting took place Dec. 1 along with the chairs from developmental studies and information systems departments. They are two programs being removed from the school in the next academic year.

Papakie had said prior to the meeting that getting more information about an actual plan would be an important step. Without it, she says “it puts her in a bind” as a leader. This was the first step in making her feel at ease.

“After four weeks of zero information, I’m encouraged,” she said.

As of the meeting, however, there was no new information to be given by IUP. So far, only tenured professors have received retrenchment notices. It is unknown what the fate of other professors will be, but criticism of the school’s decisions remains.

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News

A look back at the semester How do students feel about end of an era?

EVE TILLICH Staff Writer jxsbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP IUP did it. Now that the semester is over and finals have started, students have the opportunity to look back and reflect upon their semester.

The fall 2020 semester was unlike any other, and students feel relieved to be done. With the majority of students’ classes being remote, many students were challenged with circumstances they have not had to encounter for an entire semester before; learning and making connections with professors and peers was also a new experience for several students.

“I feel very relieved that my first semester [at IUP] is finally finished,” Evan Orr (junior, actuarial mathematics) said. “It took a lot of hard work to get through, especially when I’m doing Zoom classes. I still had a great time and can’t wait for what the future holds.”

(Facebook) Winter 2020 Commencement will be held virtually this year.

The work this semester seemed to be a lot more for some because of the way classes were structured to comply with safety guidelines. There was more independence for students as well.

Additionally, this semester held a lot of uncertainly and was considered to be stressful. However, looking back, students feel proud that they overcame the

struggles that they faced and finished to the best of their abilities.

“The semester being over is a bit of a relief, honestly,” Lane Lannan (freshman, social studies education) said. “It feels so good to have made it through the stress and moments of panic.

There were times when it was difficult, but at the end of the day, I am very happy that I put in the work to get to the end.”

Other students shared the common idea of relief and a sense of achievement. Some students also reflected on their professors and the work that they put in for their students.

“I felt really tired because schoolwork just seemed to be piling up,” Mariah Mauser (freshman, music education) said. “With COVID and the restructuring, my freshman fall semester was definitely a hurdle to get over like never before, but overall, I’m very happy with my teachers and how this semester has enriched me.”

While it is one for the books and was full of surprises and unfortunate circumstances, students pushed through and created a lot of interesting and positive memories.

“What I enjoyed the most from this semester was seeing some old friends I knew even before college and also making new friends along the way,” Orr said. “The craziest experience this semester was obviously the Zoom classes and even meeting

with professors only online during office hours rather than meeting face-to-face.”

Having a strong support group, whether that was friends or family, proved to be very important this semester. Being able to talk about how the semester made individuals feel or about something distracting was beneficial. The connections students had with others helped them through the worst parts of the semester.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much this semester,” Thomas Valcukas (freshman, biology) said.

“I thought that it was going to be another round of me being the anti-social kid again. Despite COVID, I was able to make a group of friends to socialize with.

“To me, that was all I needed to make a perfect semester. Despite classes going virtual, I felt as long as I have friends to lean on, and they recognize they can lean on me, I can say that this was a perfect semester.”

Staying positive was the way to overcome the challenges of the fall semester. Now that it is done, IUP students can breathe and look back at the positive moments.

Graduate, spouse donate to criminology fund in honor of brother, father EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP An IUP alumna provided the school with a monetary gift that will fund scholarships in her brother and fathers’ names.

Dolores Spinelli Gigliotti and her husband, Vincent, gifted the school with $2.4 million. Gigliotti graduated from IUP in 1970 with a degree in elementary education.

The money donated will go toward the Gregory Spinelli Memorial Fund, the George L. Spinelli Memorial Scholarship and will also help to establish the George L. Spinelli Enhancement Fund.

The enhancement fund will support the department of counseling, which was founded by George Spinelli, Gigliotti’s father.

Gregory Spinelli was Gigliotti’s brother who was a biology graduate at IUP in 1970. After graduating, he worked with the FBI as a physical science technician before becoming an FBI agent.

In 1973, he died after being

(The Penn Archives) Wilson Hall is home to some criminology courses. critically wounded by an escaped prisoner. He was 24 years old.

Gigliotti said that her husband and she decided to give this gift because they wanted to do good for others.

“We chose to make this gift to IUP because we trust that IUP will make the right decisions on the best candidates to receive the scholarship, to be inclusive and to help students in need,” she said.

Each May, the Gregory Spinelli Scholarship is awarded to a graduating criminology student that shows outstanding academic achievement. The student is chosen by the faculty in the department.

The recipient is announced at the department graduation ceremony. Until her death, Gigliotti’s mother, Ruth, had attended these ceremonies.

Criminology Chairperson Daniel Lee said it was an honor to have her there.

“I have many fond memories of seeing Mrs. Ruth Spinelli attend our departmental graduation ceremonies to help congratulate our students,” Lee said. “Having Mrs. Spinelli with us truly made those ceremonies a special event.”

Lee said that the family’s legacy is important at IUP. He said the award recipients have went on to successful careers and many have attended graduate school.

“We have a plaque in Wilson Hall where the names of award winners are inscribed,” he said.

“There are dozens of successful students on that plaque.”

Along with the plaque is a portrait of Special Agent Spinelli, which was dedicated in a 2013 ceremony by the Theta Chi fraternity.

IUP’s Vice President for University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna spoke about the award on behalf of IUP. “This is an extremely gener-

ous gift providing support for our students for generations to come, and a wonderful way to provide an everlasting tribute to their beloved family members,” she said.

The criminology department had similar thoughts, according to Lee. “We are grateful for donors like the Spinelli family, and I appreciate their continued support of what we do here at IUP,” he said.

Gigliotti was happy to give the gift to the school and hopes that it will inspire others to give back in the future.

“Remember, the gifts you have been given and pay back if you are able in the way that you are able,” she said. “Through time, treasure, kindness or by being a better person.”

The gift from Gigliotti is part of IUP’s Imagine Unlimited fund, a campaign set to boost student experience at the school. The campaign’s goal is $75 million.

News

December 9, 2020

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December 9, 2020

News

The ‘Ghetto Mindset’

Coming to terms with the reality of your American dream MARIAMA MANSARAY

Staff Writer mbpbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

While the American dream might not be realistic for most Americans, for African Americans, especially, the idea of the dream is but a fictitious pipe dream.

Gregory Payne Jr. spent two years of his life dreaming of becoming a fanciful and successful Hollywood animation writer, spending many of his days creating and perfecting his stories of superheroes in his journals that he carried with him everywhere.

That is, until the tragedy of the “ghetto mindset” shot his dreams down before they could become a reality.

“Growing up in the ghetto,” Payne said, “you find very few people with your like-minded mindset of wanting and wishing for more out of life. You find very few people who even want the American dream.”

The idea of the American dream is ingrained in the American system.

The Declaration of Independence stated that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

James Truslow Adams, the man credited with popularizing the idea of the American dream in the 1930s, defined the dream as, “a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

For much of America’s history, however, African Americans have been excluded from the conversation of the American Dream. When most of the idea of the dream is discussed, it does not take into consideration racial discrimination, systemic racism and other social barriers that African Americans face every day.

Based on research, “one in four African Americans live in poverty, the median annual income for African American workers was about 20 percent lower than Whites, and the unemployment rate for African Americans doubled that of white Americans.”

Though the dream might be a symbol of success for many; the dream, as it relates to a lot of African Americans who were raised in or presently live in marginalized communities, is nonexistent because of

Gregory Payne Jr. (left) grew up in Philadelphia (right) where the American dream seemed too far out of reach for him. discrimination and systemic racism.

Payne grew up in the projects of North Philadelphia in the early 80s.

Mostly, when the rest of America see or hear about North Philly on the news, they picture shoot-outs, drug deals gone wrong, deaths and darkly lit alleys with drug dealers on every corner.

Travel advisory boards describe the city as deadly and dangerous, and tourists are often warned to stay away from certain areas in the city.

SmarterTravel, a website that prides itself in delivering “expert travel tips,” warns tourist about the dangers of North Philly. According to their website, “most of the crime and murders are isolated and almost always drug-related.”

According to Payne, when children like himself are raised in these disenfranchised communities, they are not nourished or allowed to flourish, and they tend to fall into the trap of the ghetto mindset.

“As a young boy,” Payne said.

“I had my day one homies with like-minded mindset, kids that were interested in comic books, but it wasn’t enough people around to motivate me. There wasn’t even enough stuff out there for me to pursue comic book writing.

“You figure, if I’m not getting pushed to go to school, then why should I go to school?”

A study done by the Harvard economists Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren determined that the type of neighborhood in which

a child grows up determines the child’s future success and income earnings. In fact, the study claims that “bad neighborhoods have significantly more effect on boys than girls.”

“Being raised in these types of communities,” Payne said, “there’s no one there to help you, give you a hand or a leg up in life. You are already disqualified from a lot of things in life, so you just go about trying to make the best out of life.”

His dad, Payne said, contributed to him losing his dream by forcing him into the workforce right after high school. It was not about what he wanted to pursue – which was going to college and majoring in creative writing. He said it was all about what his dad wanted him to do. After a while, he lost his motivation and forgot about his dreams.

Between 1994 to 1998, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted the “Moving To Opportunity Experiment” on over 4,600 families living in high poverty-stricken areas. It was a social experiment that allowed families to enter a lottery; the winners were given a voucher that allowed them to move to better neighborhoods.

The experiment found that the physical and mental wellbeing of these families improved; however, the experiment had no positive effects on their employment or income outcomes. This experiment did not take into consideration the age of the children when the families moved.

A new study done by Chetty and Hendren in 2015 found new data.

Their experiment on “The Effects of Exposure to Better Neighborhoods on Children” found that “moving to a lower-poverty neighborhood significantly improves college attendance rates and earnings for children who were young (below age 13) when their families moved.”

Unfortunately for Payne, he did not have the opportunity, as a child, to move out of his neighborhood. According to him, he was stuck in a neighborhood and with a family that did not nourish his dreams.

The American dream, he said, is all about perceiving, and most white people are already perceived as being successful.

African Americans, he stated, are perceived a certain way, therefore the moment they step outside their homes, they are already being judged.

“I believe white people have more of a chance to live the American dream than Black people because of place of position in life,” Payne said. “They are perceived to be in a better position, so society gives them a higher opportunity. Society gives them more of a chance than their Black counterparts.”

Though he’s now living what he calls a “good life” working as a cook, Payne is still trying to come to terms with the life he’s living now, and the one he dreamt of years ago.

(Facebook)

His American dream was of being a successful writer, and for a time, that dream almost became a reality. But because he was raised in a neighborhood ridden with poverty and crime, he was caught in the vicious cycle of the “ghetto mindset.”

So, how does one break the cycle of the “ghetto mindset?”

Well, according to Payne, by being the best father he could be and ensuring his children have a better life than he did.

“It was hard growing up in the ghetto because I was never allowed to pursue what I liked,” Payne said. “I am breaking the cycle with my three kids. I have already moved them into a better neighborhood because I realize that where you grow up has a big impact on your future outcome.

“I am now working toward putting them in a position to be able to do what they like. I have realized that if you do something to compliment somebody’s dream at the beginning stages, their dream will form.”

Payne believes that one way for African Americans to beat the system of the “ghetto mindset” is for them to come together and support each other.

“As Black people, we need to stop judging each other harshly.

We already have society doing that to us. We don’t need to do that to each other.”

December 9, 2020

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IUP graduates of The Penn offer advice for those just starting

Jake Slebodnick - Managing Editor

While at IUP, I’ve met some amazing people, got to call a national basketball tournament, and found my calling as a radio personality. Something to remember is that professors want you to succeed and how you do that is by getting involved in as much as possible. My advice for freshmen is to enjoy your time on campus, while never forgetting your studies. Signing off for the final time, I’ve been Jake Slebodnick for The Penn.

Rachel Foor - Staff Writer

My favorite memory of IUP would have to be the amount of support and encouragement I received from my professors Michele Papakie and Randy Jesick to consider studying journalism alongside English. Something I’ll never forget is that befriending your professors can lead to lasting support and a lot of fun. My advice would be to keep an open mind on what you’re studying because an area may speak to you that you never considered before.

Kate Pompa - Culture Editor

I’ll always remember classes with Dr. Branscum, the man is a comical genius. He genuinely cares about his students too. One lesson I’ll definitely remember is to not procrastinate too much. Keep due dates in mind and remember to work ahead as much as possible.

Emily Loose - Staff Writer

IUP has truly opened my eyes to learning who I really am.

Before coming here, I never had a voice, but now I feel like a leader. I will never forget my time with The Penn or on WIUP-FM, or the importance of being honest and true to myself, which I learned from both Dr. Michele Papakie and Professor Randy Jesick. My advice to freshmen is to join as many clubs and organizations as possible. Go outside your comfort zone and try something new.

Alexis Loya - Copy Editor

I’ll never forget everything my journalism professors have taught me. They truly shaped me into who I am today, and I’m forever grateful for that. One lesson I’ll never forget is nothing in life is set in stone. This is coming from someone who changed their major four times. No matter what life throws at you, it will all work out like it’s meant to.

Mariama Mansaray - Staff Writer

My time at IUP has been really exciting. The journalism department became a family to me while helping me progress. I am happy about the connections I made, and the friendships I’ve built. My advice to incoming freshmen is that it’s okay to fail. Failure is a part of living; how you handle the failure is what everyone is going to remember. Always work toward building professional connections and appreciate your professors. Never take anything in your life for granted. Most of all, have fun in college.

Opinion Keeping schools sanitary

Custodians, janitors remain hard at work during pandemic

It’s been a rough year, nobody can deny that. But with the end in sight, it’s a time to look back on how far we’ve all come.

We wouldn’t have come this far if not for essential workers who keep the public healthy, and try to keep places safe from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the phrase “essential worker,” many think of the doctors and nurses in hospitals who have risked their lives to help those who are sick, in need or have the virus. They put their lives on the line every day.

Other essential workers include grocery workers, pharmaceutical workers, police officers and more; however, custodians seemed to be left out of the list when it comes down to it.

Without the help of custodians, a lot of businesses would be shut down and workers would be out of a job. Especially here on IUP’s campus, custodians are needed to keep everybody safe.

As someone who comes to campus roughly twice a week, I don’t really get to see them much.

I notice the cleaning, the safety precautions and measures they’re doing to keep us safe and the care that they put into their work.

But they hide in the shadows, or

(New Jersey Education Association) Custodial personnel continue to do their part in schools across the U.S. to ensure students can learn in-person without worry of COVID-19. they go unnoticed.

I’ve started noticing the work our custodians do more frequently than I did before a pandemic hit. Yes, they cleaned our classrooms and restrooms, and I tried to greet them in hallways before, but I’ve been doing it more lately.

They put in the long hours and hard work to make places safe.

Not only are the custodians

at IUP working hard to keep the faculty and students safe during the pandemic, but the custodians elsewhere are also working hard.

There are businesses that need constant cleaning and disinfecting.

There are custodians who work in hospitals who may be exposed to COVID-19 every day, but they go to work to keep the hospital

safe for the doctors, nurses and patients.

There are a lot of essential workers who are not able to work safely from home, not just doctors. Custodians put themselves at risk every day as well by keeping places safe for others. Those at IUP are hard at work constantly wiping down railings on stairways, disinfecting door handles and

keeping campus healthy.

IUP has done a good job keeping the virus at bay. While we’ve had several students infected, in isolation and who have recovered, the custodians have done their best to disinfect and keep campus safe.

When we see a classroom clean or go to a restroom, it doesn’t occur to most of us that another person is the one keeping it clean for us. I’ve noticed many people that, if they miss a trash can, they don’t pick up the scrap of paper or paper towel; they leave it for the custodian or janitor to get when they clean.

Not only is this disrespectful, but they’re also not there to clean up after us. Custodians are there to keep buildings and rooms clean and healthy for us, which is most important while a pandemic is going on.

This Christmas, and year-round, remember those who work hard to keep you safe and healthy despite challenging times.

Thank you to everyone who keeps IUP a safe place.

Brought to you by: The Penn Staff

The Penn says ‘thank you’ for a successful semester The Penn would like to formally thank everyone who has stuck by us during this semester. Although it was not easy at times, you, the readers, kept motivating us to push beyond those obstacles.

Everyone here will continue working throughout the winter break to make sure next semester is better than the last.

There are plans in place for next semester and those will be announced at a later date.

Issues will continue to be

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released once-a-week next semester, with the first issue published on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.

We would like to congratulate all the seniors who are graduating this semester. Life will be hard the next several months, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

There are three editors who will be part of that group: Alexis Loya, Kate Pompa and Jake Slebodnick. The rest of the staff wishes them all the best.

If you would like to work on our staff as a photographer or writer please contact us by email at the-penn@iup.edu.

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Penn.

-

Steven Langdon Jr. Editor-in-Chief

December 9, 2020

Opinion

Culture

Culture Editor: Katelin Pompa – xzgw@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Haley Brown – tbfx@iup.edu

(The Penn Archives)

Graduation is the moment that most students are waiting for to close their college experience.

Students are upset by virtual graduation HALEY BROWN

Lead Culture Writer

tbfx@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

IUP seniors who are graduating this month will celebrate through a virtual graduation ceremony, and they have a lot to say about it.

While some students could not care less about whether or not they attend a graduation ceremony, the idea of not having a choice about it is extremely disappointing and discouraging to many college students who are graduating. With COVID-19 still running rampant throughout America and case numbers continuing to climb, having an in-person graduation ceremony was simply not a viable option.

Many find that they are now dispirited about the ceremony that will end their college career, and some find it difficult to even want to participate in the virtual version of the ceremony since it will not be the same. The idea of walking across that stage to bring their college years to a close in front of proud family and friends is a sorely lost hope and is not the way they wanted to end this difficult year.

“I’m honestly mad, disappoint-

Culture

ed and almost cannot put my emotions into words,” Hannah Snyder (senior, biology) said. “I actually didn’t even put my name into the virtual graduation ceremony because I feel that [it’s] like a movie credit scene. You see your name scroll across the screen, and you pretend to hold a piece of paper like your diploma and act happy, but it hurts. I feel that I was robbed of an actual graduation and will never get that.”

Family members who would normally participate in an in-person ceremony are also disappointed and are being forced to offer their congratulations from afar.

Despite the difficult nature of the situation, many are trying to keep their chins up and be positive and realistic about why the change must happen.

“My family’s feelings on graduation being virtual is slightly bittersweet,” Ashley O’Hara (senior, middle level education) said.

“It is a big moment in my family right now to finally have someone graduate college, and not being able to celebrate that by seeing me walk across the stage and get my diploma is very upsetting to them. It feels as if a big moment was ripped from our families.”

Many students find that it adds insult to injury to have the ceremo-

ny be virtual, but they still understand that right now, the in-person ceremony would only make the situation drag out longer.

Despite the safety perks of the virtual graduation ceremony, students still feel cheated from what some would consider to be one of the most important milestones of their lives.

“Graduation being virtual is sad to me,” O’Hara said. “I am the first in my family to actually graduate college, and ever since being accepted into IUP, I always dreamed of my family watching me walk across that stage.

However, I am happy that they did give us at least some option for graduation. That way, everyone is able to stay safe.”

Families remain supportive of the graduating classes, from a distance of course, but the lack of opportunity for in-person contact makes congratulatory exchanges hard for students and may even make the occasion seem less meaningful. So many students are struggling with the impacts COVID-19 is having on their lives, and not having a “real” graduation ceremony feels like rubbing salt in a wound for many.

“I don’t really feel that my family cares too much about it being virtual other than the idea that

December 9, 2020

they can see how much not having a graduation affects me,” Snyder said. “My mom isn’t even buying a cap and gown because there will be no ceremony and no pictures, so she feels it is a waste. I feel that I had a part of my college experience stolen from me.”

Seniors are finding it extremely difficult to find the bright side of things, and despite everyone understanding why the virtual ceremony was a necessary evil, it doesn’t make the disappointment of not having a real ceremony less difficult to deal with.

“I am a little upset that graduation is virtual,” Kaitlyn Reilly (senior, middle level education) said. “It’s hard to know that after four-and-a-half years of hard work, I won’t be able to fully participate in the one thing that was an expected piece of closure and celebration. I have been looking forward to graduation for a while now, so it is definitely hard knowing that I won’t be able to walk across the stage for my family.”

Since the cases across the country are rising, many seniors find it easy to agree that the virtual conversion was completely necessary. Keeping people safe and healthy is, and should be, everyone’s top priority at the moment no matter what “normal”

milestones of life this goal might disrupt.

“I do think it was smart to make graduation virtual,” Reilly said.

“While I am upset that I won’t have a ‘normal’ graduation, I know that it is safer for everyone involved. In fact, even if they were offering small ceremonies for departments, I do not think that I would attend. COVID is something that needs to be taken seriously, and moving graduation online is evidence that IUP is acknowledging that. The biggest positive of virtual graduation is that my family and I will be safe.”

Despite the many ups and downs of 2020, this semester will come to an inevitably virtual close for many seniors who deserve all of the warm congratulatory wishes and uplifting praises from family and friends. If you know a senior that is graduating this semester, do your absolute best to ensure they know how supported and loved they are by you and the other people in their life.

We must also make sure to express to these seniors, and really to any student, how extremely proud we are and how proud they should be for getting through what has likely been one of the most difficult and trying semesters of many people’s lives.

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The student debt crisis evokes feelings of anger MARIAMA MANSARAY

Staff Writer mbpbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Speaking to graduating seniors at IUP, one of the issue they voiced is the rising student debt crisis.

They express the “frustrations” and “fear” that go through their minds during this time.

For many students, graduating college comes with a lot of excitement and feelings of accomplishment. However, students stated that graduating college also comes with a lot of “doubt,” especially when it comes to the repayment of their student loans. According to Forbes, as of 2020, “there are 45 million borrowers who collectively owe nearly $1.6 trillion in student loan debt.”

“The student debt crisis is definitely scary, and I feel like I’m not completely educated about my loans,” Kamrynn Wantz (senior, communications media) said. “I don’t necessarily know my next

Student debt can be very stressful for graduates. step. I recently looked at the amount I owed, and I got scared because it was a lot.”

Wantz said because she’s also a graduate student, she finds solace in the fact that though she’s finishing undergraduate school in a few days, she still has a few more months left before she starts thinking about paying her loans.

(Mimzy/Pixabay)

Kaitlyn Ciancio (senior, journalism and public relations) agrees with Wantz.

“This is horrible and really bad,” Ciancio said. “I just went through my exit counseling training to review all my student debts, and it is incredibly disheartening to know that the government doesn’t invest a lot of money into students any-

more. I’m very angry that If I wanted an education, I have to be in so much debt.”

According to Federal Student Aid, there are 27.1 million loan borrowers in repayment. Though the federal government offers different repayment plans, the Department of Education states that 20 percent of student loan borrowers are in defaulting. The consequences of default often leads to wage garnishing, bad credit and sometimes loss of “favorable” repayment options.

“Though I knew what I was getting into, it’s still really stressful to think about,” Evan Weaver (senior, psychology) said. “It’s hard to focus on school while constantly thinking that six months after I graduate, whether I have a job or not, I have to start making payments on my loans.”

Weaver said he believes it’s unhealthy that students in America are pressured to go to college right after high school. College, he said, is not for everyone, and society is

forcing 18- and 19-year-olds to get a huge debt that might not be worth it in the end.

“Student loan debt can be crippling to people who are not well prepared for their future,” he said.

“Getting into this much debt is a personal decision that everyone has to weigh carefully before deciding.”

Having all these student debts, Wantz said, can be mentally and emotionally draining for students at such a young age.

“I’m just 21, and I don’t think I’m even going to be able to enjoy my 20s because I would always be worrying about my debt,” she said.

“It takes a toll.”

“I know President-Elect Joe Biden has been talking about erasing all student loans or some part of it,” Ciancio said. “If he could do something like that, it will be a dream come true.”

Students face many anxieties and fears about upcoming student debt. If you know a graduate, give them some love.

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IUP students favorite winter activities MEGAN DONNY Staff Writer M.Donny@iup.edu @ThePennIUP While the first day of winter is still a few weeks away, students have already begun getting into the holiday and winter spirit.

The winter season brings with it many exciting activities and traditions that families and friends usually partake in. These activities include baking, shopping, decorating, watching festive movies and enjoying time by the fireplace.

“Winter is probably my favorite season because I love the holidays and the snow,” Olivia Tavoletti (senior, marketing) said. “I feel like everything feels so magical this time of year.”

Even though this year has been rough on us all, these activities can surely brighten our lives as we wait for the year to be over.

“My favorite part of the winter season is the snow,” she said. “I love when it snows and wish it would snow more.”

Even though snow can be

beautiful to watch from the comfort of your home, many prefer the sunshine and heat of summer to the chill and ice brought by winter.

“While I love this time of year because of the holidays, it’s too cold for me,” Dani Zdrale (senior,

(Larisa-k/Pixabay)

marketing) said.

Watching holiday and seasonal movies are one of the best ways to stay cozy during the cold weather.

“My favorite winter activity is watching holiday movies, especially the ‘Santa Clause’ movies,”

Zdrale said. “They’re festive and enjoyable.”

Zdrale is not the only student who loves festive movies.

“My favorite winter activity is watching Christmas movies and baking,” Maran Davis (senior, fashion merchandising) said. “These activities always remind me of home, so they are comforting.”

Baking is a tradition many students love to partake in as well.

“I love to watch Christmas movies and bake cookies,” Thea McCollough (senior, fashion merchandising) said. “It’s the one time a year you can do these things.”

Many families have long standing winter traditions that involve baking certain foods and desserts, watching particular movies and gathering to enjoy the season.

“Every year, my family picks out a Christmas tree from Simmons Farm,” Zdrale said. “It’s something I’ll never tire of doing.”

Some families have traditions of watching their favorite holiday movies.

“Every year ,my family watches ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,’” McCollough said. “It’s my family’s favorite

holiday movie.”

However, families of different religious backgrounds sometimes have different ways of celebrating the season.

“Every Christmas Eve, my family does the feast of the seven fishes, which is really fun and special,” Tavoletti said. “Also, whoever finds the pickle ornament on the Christmas tree on Christmas morning gets to open the first gift.”

Some families have less traditions than others.

“We don’t really have any seasonal traditions,” Davis said, “except my family usually goes to my aunt’s house for Christmas Eve dinner.”

One thing is for sure, though: this time of year is when we all get to wind down and have fun with friends and family before the start of the new year.

“I really enjoy spending this time of year with my cousins because this time of year has always been fun for us,” Tavoletti said.

The holiday season is usually spent with friends and family, though this year that might be slightly different.

Seniors share their favorite professors over the years EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer e.d.loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Even after they receive their diplomas, students will always remember those who impacted them most.

As graduation approaches, IUP seniors have thought about their favorite professors during their time in college.

The students all agreed that the kindness they received from their professors helped boost their own morale and hard work.

Tara Logan (senior, communications media) was most impacted by the professors who tried remembering their students.

“I’m always saying how the professors at IUP actually care about us,” she said.

One of her examples of such professors was Dr. Anna Ortiz, the assistant chairperson in the communications media department.

(PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay) “In COMM 101, Dr. Ortiz memorized all of our names and faces,” Logan said. “I literally did not have another class with her until last semester, but she remembered me for four years and would always say ‘hi.’”

Emma Russek (senior, theater) said her favorite professor was Dr. Michael Schwartz from the theater department.

“He genuinely loves theater and always encouraged us to be passion-

ate about what we do,” she said.

For Russek, Schwartz made college feel like a “home away from home.” She also enjoyed his personality.

“He’s just hilarious and a truly good person,” she said.

Austin Dukes (senior, criminology) said his favorite professor, Dr. Eric Kocian, helped influence his love for his major.

“He made learning quite inter-

esting,” Dukes said. “He used real life examples to teach rather than teaching from a book.”

Dukes said he took Kocian’s CRIM 401 class, Contemporary Issues in Criminology.

“I learned more from him that semester than I did in a year of anything else,” he said. “He really kept my interest.”

David Laughead (senior, political science) said his favorite professor comes from his own department, Dr. Aleea Perry. She had acted as an inspiration for him.

He said she not only impacted him, but all political science students.

“Dr. Perry has become a role model and a life coach for me,” he said. “To hear her accomplishments and experiences after college, it gives me hope that I can also be selfmade and accomplish anything that I put my mind to.”

Laughead said that Perry and he had been through similar hardships over time, which made her even

more special to him.

Something that he will always remember about her is how she put students’ needs first.

“Dr. Perry created a business attire closet that would allow students to buy a suit for less than $20,” he said. “She also uses low-cost textbooks in her class and has the books on reserve for students who can’t afford them.”

To Laughead, Perry is an integral part of IUP, and he knows that she will continue to be after he graduates.

“I can’t wait to see what the future holds for IUP students with someone like Dr. Perry around who will continue to help fight and support those students in who are need.”

Every student finds a professor that gives their education extra meaning.

For these graduating students, the professors who impacted their own lives will continue to be of support to them. The impact they made will last a lifetime.

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Future plans for grads

The best advice comes from those who are about to graduate.

(AnnalieseArt/Pixabay)

Parting words from the class of 2020 The next step after graduation is finding a job.

AMARI WALKER Staff Writer jqtbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP With the year of 2020 being so hectic, there are many graduates who have accepted the changes of this year.

Graduates have utilized this year as their motivation to finish their schooling and move into the next chapter in their life.

“The best thing IUP has taught me is to never say no and always push myself beyond my limits,” Patricia Pinson (senior, communications media and theater) said.

Her concentration was production in the communications media program. However, she is also currently working toward a certificate in photography. She has learned a lot from her experience at IUP and plans to use the tools taught to her in the future. Her professors motivated her to flourish both academically and personally because of the advice they have given her.

After college, Pinson is willing to work toward becoming a licensed commercial drone pilot and schedule her exam for the Federal Aviation Association. To prepare for this next chapter in her life, she hopes to work with a production crew or photography while developing her own scripts and projects that she will eventually release. Her goals are getting a job and gain some experience in her field before she goes for her grad degree.

Another student similar to Pinson, Tyler Manko (senior, communications media), said that from his experience at IUP, he has learned a lot from Dr. Anna Ortiz.

“With Dr. Ortiz as my advisor,

(Tumiso/Pixabay)

she was very helpful in just showing me which classes that I might be interested in,” Manko said.

Ortiz’s suggestions led him to trying different classes to see what he liked and disliked, which led him to where he is today. Along with Ortiz’s advisory, Manko was able to learn how to be in control of his time management and how to handle everything in a professional manner from each of his professors.

After he graduates, Manko’s next chapter in life includes working in sales or public relations.

He plans on applying to jobs this upcoming week, so let’s wish him the best of luck.

Additionally, Kamrynn Wantz (senior, communications media and marketing) has grown personally and professionally during her time at IUP. To help prepare for her future, she attended workshops and mock interviews which has helped her become more comfortable speaking publicly and becoming more of a leader in the classroom.

Wantz’s next step in her new journey is to continue her education at IUP as a graduate student for the strategic communications program. Her dream job is to work for a sports team or other venue.

Despite this year being a rough patch for everyone, these soonto-be graduates have remained focused on their goals and are ready to begin the next chapter in their lives. They’ve put in the hard work, time and effort into accomplishing their time as undergraduate students.

Therefore, let’s send a big congratulations to all of the 2020 graduates on all their hard work and wish them the best of luck as they move onto their new journey.

JULIA ROBINS Staff Writer spxbc@iup.edu @ThePennIUP College is a learning experience and starting out as a freshman or a sophomore can be intimidating, but thankfully, seniors have passed down some advice.

Seniors have been there and learned everything from not partying on a Sunday night to the best way to study for an exam. Some current seniors will be graduating Saturday, and others will be graduating in May. David Laughhead (senior, political science) served as student body president from 2018-19 in addition to being the vice-chairperson for University Senate and Phi Sigma Kappa president.

He spoke of the importance of getting involved on campus as it can help one find their passion like he did.

“As a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to do career-wise or what my passion was until I got involved on campus,” he said. “I joined student government, and I immediately found my passion.

For me, that passion was to help and advocate for others.”

He said that because of student government, he changed his major from biology to political science.

“It was the best decision I ever made. I finally felt confident in what I was going to school for, and the classes were better suited for what I wanted to learn.”

Katie McLaughlin (senior, English) has been a member of the Cook Honors College and had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain. She advises underclassmen to reach out of their comfort zone and make connections with other students and faculty on campus.

“Focus on exploring relationships just as much as you focus on your studies,” she said. “College is a strange space. It’s the

only place where you spend the majority of your time surrounded by like-minded, similarly aged individuals who are all learning and exploring the world together.”

She recommends hanging out in common areas, asking the people sitting around you in class to grab a coffee or going to your professor’s office hours and talking to them.

“Get to know the ladies that make your sandwiches,” she said.

“Studying is important, but if you always have your head shoved in your laptop, you’ll miss part of what makes college so great— the people. Grab a drink with a new friend and discuss the philosophical ways of this world.”

Other students like Keris Ladd (senior, criminology and criminal justice) had similar advice about getting involved on campus and meeting new friends, saying that it “will make your college experience so much better.”

McLaughlin also spoke about how “it is OK to not be OK.” While being social is important, peer-pressure is real, and it is perfectly fine to be one’s own person.

It is OK to decline a date, fail a quiz, change one’s major or feel depressed. Everything is not going to be sunshine and roses all the time. In fact, do not let it be.

“Do what scares you,” she said.

“Ask that person you like out on a date. Wear the crop top. Dye your hair, cut it, give yourself the 70s fluffy bangs and shag cut it like all of TikTok is obsessed with.

“Raise your hand and ask your professor the question. Go on the study abroad trip even if you do not speak that language.

“Switch your major. Switch it again. Switch as many times as you need to. Allow yourself to not know what you are doing. Admit you are afraid and live anyway.

“After these four years, 98 percent of the people who were judging you in the Oak Grove as you confidently rocked an off-kilter

outfit will not matter. They will not remember you, and you will not remember them. Make mistakes and seek out adventure. You never know what or who you might find.”

Trying new things is also the advice of Alexis Sterner (senior, communications media) who recommended taking a mixture of classes in different subject areas.

If one enjoys space, try taking an astronomy class. “Branching out” is how Sterner became a creative writing minor.

It is also perfectly acceptable to ask for help when one needs it, and one student who advocated for it is Megan Keyser (senior, natural science/pre-audiology and deaf studies). She is the president of IUP Sign Language Club, treasurer of IUP Women and Gender Studies Club, and member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, Delta Alpha Pi and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

“Stress can put a dampener on the college experience, and stress is OK,” she said. “But don’t let it consume you, and it is OK to ask for help if you need it. Being a STEM major can be tough, but all of the professors are truly there for you, especially in the biology department.

“IUP offers free counseling services which are a huge help if you need it. Also, take advantage of the tutoring in Stabley, or in your departments if it is offered, and attend supplemental instruction sessions.”

Supplemental instruction, common in many science classes, is when a student who has excelled in the class before, teaches review sessions and creates practice tests. This is just one example of the many resources available to struggling students.

Being new to college is tough, but with the advice of these seniors, it can make it more bearable. Giving advice to underclassmen is always the best gift you can give.

Sports

Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu

(USA Today)

NFL is full of festive holiday matchups JAKE TAYLOR

Staff Writer J.M.Taylor8@iup.edu @JakeTaylor8726

Obviously, this holiday break is unlike any before; lockdowns are looming and family gatherings are up in the air.

The break will mirror 2020 as a whole, and people will do nothing but stay inside and find ways to be entertained. Luckily for the readers of this article, I am providing some solid choices between classic holiday movies and big NFL matchups. This is not a hot take article, so sit down, shut up and drink some eggnog.

We will start with a Week 15 matchup. The New England Patriots travel to sunny Miami to play the Dolphins. This division matchup will have heavy playoff implications for both teams.

The Dolphins sit at 8-4 and the Patriots at 6-6. They both face very good opponents in Week 14, when the Patriots will start the week off Thursday night against the Rams.

A Super Bowl 53 rematch will have a hot Los Angeles Rams team host Bill Belichick and the Patriots. The Dolphins will host

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the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Patriots could have newfound life after beating the Chargers 45-0. The Dolphins are struggling following a Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Miami has played two teams at the bottom, the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets, putting up a combined 63 points. The new playoff format allows one more team to make the postseason, and the American Football Conference (AFC) is as tight as ever. The winner of the Patriots’ and Dolphins’ Week 15 matchup can decide their fates.

If football doesn’t interest you, then I suggest binging some holiday classics. Start with the greatest holiday movie of all time: “Die Hard.”

It combines the essentials to a good movie, which are action, humor, love, good versus evil and the greatest death scene in movie history. The movie takes place at Nakatomi Tower in Los Angeles.

John McClane must not only reconcile with his wife but save her company Christmas party from a group of international terrorists. Unless you hate true

love and action scenes, I would suggest Charlie Brown.

“Die Hard” not only paved the way for all action films, it set the holiday spirit like no other. A film packed with so much love and so much passion for good really embodies the holiday spirit. I mean, it's not about a fat bearded white guy who spies on children, keeps a list of all their naughty actions and gives the poor kids worse presents than the rich ones. That would be bizarre.

Speaking of fat bearded men, it's back to watching football.

Week 15 offers another huge matchup. The AFC favorite, the Chiefs, against the National Football Conference (NFC) favorite, New Orleans Saints. Somehow, it's not primetime because the NFL would rather have Nick Mullens versus Andy Dalton Sunday night.

The two heavyweights enter the Superdome to compete for true NFL dominance. This game doesn’t have as many playoff implications as other games, however, it will prove a lot about each team. The Chiefs have been playing down to their competition lately. The Saints needs to prove

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they are good enough to beat a team like the Chiefs without Drew Brees.

Another holiday film that stands above the rest has to be “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” The film starring John Candy and Steve Martin is a must watch. In a series of unfortunate events, Martin must find a way home in time for Thanksgiving. Candy, a shower curtain ring salesman, is his only companion.

In a film that offers belly busting laughs, it also offers deep emotional value. The rollercoaster that is the journey home combines humor, patience and compassion.

The film hits on notes that are necessary for a feel-good holiday flick.

Staying in the holiday spirit, you can’t forget the Griswold family.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” offers the greatest family ever put to film. Chevy Chase, who plays Clark Griswold, is at the top of his game in this movie as he attempts to be the best father during the holiday season.

Hilarious disaster after disaster throws his plan haywire. Granted, sometimes due to his own incompetence, Griswold means well.

Changing the channel back to NFL competition. Week 16 showcases the AFC’s top contenders, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts. A key match-up for both football teams. Pittsburgh plays the Buffalo Bills Week 14, but win or lose, their game versus the Colts is more important.

The Colts won’t be competing for a first-round bye but will be competing for home field advantage in the first round, which does mean something because they are permitted fans. The Colts have had a tougher schedule this season, and the Steelers need to prove they can beat a playoff team. The Steelers will also be competing for a first-round bye.

Regardless, whatever you watch during your break, I hope it is full of good health and positivity.

During this difficult time in our nation, reflect on what you have.

Take time to understand that this time may be difficult, but there are humans around the world and in your community that are worse off.

Believe it or not, the holiday is not about Santa Claus coming to town, it is about embodying the holiday spirit and giving back.

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US Soccer making its presence felt in Europe STEVEN LANGDON Editor-in-Chief S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePennIUP U.S. Soccer players stared over the weekend for their club teams.

It was the first time since 2005 that three different players scored a goal in Europe’s top five leagues.

This one was more special than the previous.

The first time this happened in 2005, goals came from Jermaine Jones, Brian McBride and Claudio Reyna. Their average age was 29.7 years old.

Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna, son of Claudio Reyna, were the goal scorers who made history this time around. Their average age is 20.6 years old, almost a decade younger.

This is not a coincidence; the U.S. has made this their goal to flood the European leagues with youth talent. McKennie and Pulisic’s goals were achievements in themselves as well.

This summer, McKennie became the first player to be signed by Juventus. Saturday, he became the first American goal scorer for the club. His header in the 78th minute leveled the score in the win against Torino.

Pulisic became the fastest to score 10 Premier League goals in the 3-1 win against Leeds United. He is the fourth American to achieve this milestone.

Reyna scored the equalizer in the 58th minute for Borussia Dortmund to salvage a point. Although he was happy about the goal, he felt that one or two more should have gone in as well.

This will not be the last time this happens, and it should not take another 15 years to achieve. There is a possibility that it will happen again this season. U.S. soccer has more than these three that could score goals.

Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Josh Sargent and Timothy Weah are also capable of finishing a shot in the back of the net. It is crazy to think that out of all the names that have been mentioned, the oldest players are McKinnie and Pulisic at 22 years old.

The new generation of U.S. Soccer players are part of the most talented group to ever come out.

Before, clubs in Europe would not spend a penny scouting talent in the U.S. With this serge in talent, teams have started to place youth academies here to groom players

for the next level.

Experts, including myself, have said for years that talent is coming through the ranks. They are having milestones never seen before. For example, Dest became both the first U.S. player to be signed and play for Barcelona.

He is not the only American there either. Konrad de la Fuerte has played in the Champions League for them this season. He is not a regular, but at 19 years old, regular minutes should be coming within the next year.

I did not include Yunus Musah because he has not declared alliance to the U.S. The 18-yearold played in both friendlies this past international window. He also became the youngest non-Spanish goal scorer in La Liga history, and he signed a new deal with Valencia that includes a €100 million buyout

clause or about $121 million.

If Musah does decide to play for the U.S., the team could have a midfield of him, Adams and McKennie. That is one that could play together for the next decade or more.

Every player will be important along with others like Zack Steffen and Antonee Robinson as World Cup qualifying starts in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) next year. This is the steppingstone to seeing how talented of a group the U.S. produced.

There are three main goals for this group until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Some are individual and others are team based.

The first is to stay injury free as much as possible. One of the issues that have plagued this

group are injuries. If the team has more options, then that is better for head coach Gregg Berhalter, especially if there are five or six players that could score goals.

The second goal is to make it impossible for your club team to not include your name in the lineup. American soccer is still going to be downplayed. Players need to go out and prove them wrong.

Coaches have said that American players will work as hard as possible to get better. Show them why you are the most important player to that team.

Finally, qualify for the World Cup. The reason this is not No. 1 is because without the first two, this is harder to achieve. After the disappointment of the last qualification, this is almost a whole new group, but the thought of not qualifying last time lingers in each

player’s mind.

The potential of the team is not reached and will not be by the time 2022 comes around. Qatar should be the goal of qualifying and making it to the round of 16 or better. The full potential will come the World Cup after.

When 2026 rolls around, the World Cup will arrive in North America for the first time since 1994. Soccer is growing at an extraordinary pace. Anything short of a competitive team capable of winning a World Cup would be a disappointment.

If the U.S. has even half of those players develop into stars, this team will be a force to be reckoned with. Adams, McKinnie, Pulisic and Reyna are known names throughout club soccer now.

The American Outlaws are here, and they are here to stay.

(ussoccer.com) Giovanni Reyna (left), Weston McKennie (middle) and Tyler Adams (right) celebrating after a goal during their Nov. 16 game.

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Sports

Eagles 2020 struggles continue

Poor execution to start games is to blame AUSTIN SMITH Staff Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP Sixteen wins is the magic number so far in the entire NFC East division.

It has been nothing but a disappointment to watch this season.

Injuries, coaching and so on have been the main reason for that poor play. The Philadelphia Eagles are not flying to the road to victory at all this season, and that showed greatly in the standings but not so much in the scores of the games.

The birds sit a 3-7-1 record and are third in the division right behind the Washington Football Team and the New York Giants.

So, it’s anybody’s division right now.

The Eagles have had a lot of closer games than people think this season. They have not gotten blown out by a big margin in any of the games, but Carson Wentz has not been performing, and that is the problem is this season.

Wentz threw plenty of interceptions, got knocked down more than usual and really just has not found his groove this season, but is there a certain reason why?

For one, the injury bug, like many teams, have killed the birds.

Wentz has had good players to throw to like Travis Fulgham and Dallas Goedert, but no so much of Zach Ertz due to injury.

Yet again, problems come on both sides of the ball. Philadelphia is ranked 14th in the league with tackles which shows they are showing up. They have allowed 307 points, which isn’t the worst, yet can definitely be improved.

The Eagles have allowed an average of 25. 6 points per game which puts them close to the middle ranked at 19th. This is also not terrible, but they only allowed 21.8 points a game in 2019.

So at this point, the Eagles offense and defense are just not on the same page every game, which is why their record is the way it is. They have the talent in each category for the most part and is a team that should be able to

compete on any given night.

I am sure Doug Pederson and the rest of the coaching staff have many things to say about it as well as reporters. With the birds playing from behind, playing well in the second half will only get them so far.

"We're going to have to execute,” Wentz said. “I say it every week and it kind of sounds cliché and we say it over and over, but we've got to execute better.

We've got to come out and play faster early in games and try and strike early and change the momentum a little bit.”

He at least acknowledges that they have to come out faster and stronger earlier on because in to-

(The Athletic) Jalen Hurts replaced Carson Wentz in the game against the Packers.

day’s day and age, you will barely win when playing catch up the whole time.

"Sometimes the other team comes out and plays something different than what we're expecting and we've got to make adjustments early,” Wentz said. “That's part of football. We have to come out confident and really execute our assignments better. It's been a big point of emphasis for us."

That’s sports in general. You do not know how your opponent is going to respond every time, but you have to be prepared for it.

Wentz, in my opinion, plays the game a little more relaxed as far as when he comes out of the pocket. He has looked rushed and panicked most of the time, and you cannot be that way in today’s game if you want success to happen.

The birds have to be prepared to play up to their opponent’s standards if they want any success.

That all starts with the man behind the ship, Coach Pederson.

It could be the form of the play calling, as Pederson acknowledged that "everything is on the table" and that the Eagles' "collaborative" process to put together a game plan is a smooth one, but the results just haven't been there.

Pederson has allowed for, in recent games, play calling duties to be shared, if only a little. If the Eagles get off to a better start earlier in the game, I think their game plan would work out better.

So, with the offense, defense and injury bug, the Eagles need to execute their game plan right in the beginning of the game. That is the problem. Every team has problems, even if it is small with offense and/or defense, but not every team has a problem starting off early with their game plan as a lot of teams have higher records this season to prove that.

For Philadelphia fans, this season has been bad, but so has the entire division. So playing better earlier on will make the birds back on the top of the NFC East next season.

For now, there are still games left, and the Eagles have to focus on those and work on getting better each game for a better season next year and hope to have a better start to each of their games.