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IUP MASCOT, NORM THE HAWK, CELEBRATES 12TH BIRTHDAY

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NEWS

News Editor: Jake Slebodnick – J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu Lead News Writer: Emily Loose – E.D.Loose@iup.edu

IUP mascot, Norm the Hawk, celebrates 12th birthday

text asking a question about IUP. Students who answer are then put in a drawing to win various prizes including gift cards and merchandise.

To celebrate his birthday, IUP posted a video on its social media along with a caption reading “We'll just leave this right here.

Norm turns the big ‘12’ today!

Happy Birthday, Norm.”

EMILY LOOSE

Lead News Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

IUP’s mascot Norm the Hawk, named after the school’s original title of Indiana Normal School, celebrated his birthday Sunday.

First introduced in 2007, Norm has been a staple at numerous campus events and games ever since.

The mascot of Norm came about after controversy struck IUP over being known as “the Indians” and using a bear named Cherokee as the mascot. Along with 17 other schools, IUP was put on a sanctions list in 2006 by the NCAA. To go to away games, IUP had to cover up any mention of the term.

Though it initially tried to appeal this, the school decided it was time for a change. Surveys were given out across campus and the community in order to find a new mascot.

After a long search, the school became the Crimson Hawks, stemming from the red tail hawks that live in the Oak Grove. Along with Norm, the school’s fight song “Crimson Xpress” was born, replacing the song “Cherokee.”

Other possible mascots included “Fighting Squirrels” after the squirrels that appear all over campus and “Ridge Runners” due to IUP being part of the mining area of Pennsylvania.

According to IUP’s website, red-tailed hawks are part of native lore.

The name Norm did not become official until 2008. According to an article posted March 3 of that year, Norm’s name was chosen by the mascot implementation team. When still known as Indiana Normal School, the sports teams were known as “The Normalites.”

In 2013, a hawk statue was put in the Kovalchick Center to honor the mascot.

Norm has made such an

News

“Happy birthday, Norm!

I was one of the twenty-ish students on SAAC to bring you to life. [I’m] so glad we

(IUP Athletics)

didn’t end up being the fighting squirrels or grey wolves. Couldn’t imagine being the miners after knowing you,”

- Alex Case IUP alumna

(Twitter) For 12 years, Norm the Hawk has been IUP’s mascot and the sultan of spirit at athletic events. While this change seemed peculiar at first, Norm has become a major attraction to students and Indiana residents.

impact at the school that he placed second in “Mascot Madness,” an event held by 14 Pennsylvania schools. That year, he lost to Rammy from West

Chester University.

Not only does Norm participate in school events, but he also helps give out prizes via text.

Put together by the Student

October 25, 2019

Philanthropy Council, “Get in the Know With Norm” is a mobile trivia game available to any student who signs up. Almost every week, Norm sends out a

The video features Norm dancing with presents and balloons surrounding him as “Happy Birthday” plays in the background.

Students and alumni sent birthday wishes in response, some reminiscing on his creation.

“Happy birthday, Norm! I was one of twenty-ish student athletes on SAAC to bring you to life,” tweeted alumna Alex Case (@LuvinMotherhood). “[I’m] so glad we didn’t end up being the fighting squirrels or grey wolves!

Couldn’t imagine being the miners after knowing you.”

Norm will continue to be a staple of IUP and will pop up at events for a long time. He has won the hearts of students and shows no signs of stopping.

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Therapy dogs return to help students ‘prep their paws’

(Morgan Detweiler/The Penn) Students feeling overwhelmed by assignments had the opportunity to “prep their paws” with the Just Paws Therapy Dogs on Wednesday. Amy Steedle (top left) poses with therapy dog, Ranger. Students were able to adopt their own stuffed therapy dog.

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IUP honors late student leader with memorial service EMILY LOOSE

Lead News Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

As a student who made a big impact at IUP, Brian Swatt was given a memorial Thursday.

Swatt passed away June 7 in a car accident.

At IUP, he was a political science major in his senior year.

He was part of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and was the president of the Student Government Association.

Outside of the school, he was named a student member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. He also was part of Sen. Joe Pittman’s staff.

Swatt’s memorial service took place at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex at 3 p.m. in Toretti Auditorium. The service was put together by his Kappa Sigma brothers, as well as family and friends. More than 100 people gathered in remembrance.

The memorial opened with a welcoming by IUP executive director of development Anthony Cancro. Cancro is a fellow brother of Kappa Sigma.

“Hearing the name Brian Swatt will conjure up thoughts of admiration,” he said. “To me, Brian was a friend and a brother.”

President Michael Driscoll also spoke at the service. He recounted memories of his time with Swatt, including the time Swatt delivered a pizza to his house.

Driscoll said Swatt was always “hard at it.”

“His impact would have been great, was great and is great.”

Also there to speak at the memorial was Carson Nicholas, a graduate student in public affairs.

Swatt had been his best friend at school.

He read the eulogy that he had read at Swatt’s funeral.

He recounted his first meeting with Swatt in their freshman year through SGA. They quickly formed a bond.

Nicholas remembered going door to door to get names for an election. He said Swatt once went out in below 20 degree weather without gloves. Even though he

(John Vasas III/The Penn) Friends and family of Brian Swatt gathered in the Toretti Auditorium in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on Thursday to share stories of him. Swatt died June 7.

got frostbite, he did not care.

Swatt’s nature stuck with Nicholas through his life.

“I would not be half the man I am if it were not for Brian,” he said. “He was making a difference until the day he died.”

Nicholas said he was supposed to see Swatt just three days after the accident when they would joke about their current positions at the time. Swatt was at Sen. Pittman’s office, and Nicholas was interning in Harrisburg.

“In that accident, I lost a brother, a confidant. . . I lost my

“Hearing the name Brian Swatt will conjure up thoughts of admiration. To me, Brian was a friend and a brother.”

- Anthony Cancro Brother, Kappa Sigma

spark,” he said near the end of his speech.

After he was done speaking, he invited Swatt’s girlfriend, Amber Estok, to speak.

She told the audience about the side of Swatt others did not get to see and how he made her feel special every day. She said he taught her not to take life for granted.

“Brian will forever have a place in my heart,” she said.

Samuel Smith, vice chair of the Board Of Governors, remembered how he found Swatt to be “too smooth” when they first met, especially when he asked him to write a letter of recommendation to get on the Board, not too long later.

Despite this, he was happy to work with Swatt and had many fond memories with him. Swatt’s death took a toll on him, making it hard to even think of a speech to write.

“It gets too easy to get caught up in asking ‘why,’” Smith said.

“It’s not ‘why,’ it’s ‘how do we deal with this?’”

Pittman was the last to speak. He said he first met Swatt in 2018 through Smith.

Throughout their time together, Swatt taught Pittman many lessons, including how to speak to voters and how to set up Bluetooth in his car.

Pittman became emotional as he said Swatt was a teacher for him, and he was the student.

“I feel blessed God put Brian in my life when he did.”

At the close of the ceremony, Cancro gave honor to Swatt once more by reciting Kappa Sigma’s creed.

After the service, those in attendance were invited to a reception that took place in the DeChurch Lobby.

A scholarship in Swatt’s name has been created, provided to students with similar character as Swatt.

More information about the scholarship can be found at iup.edu/brianswattscholarship.

“His impact would have been great, was great and is great.”

- Michael Driscoll IUP President

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October 25, 2019

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Local organizations offer volunteer opportunities for students ANNA MECHLING Staff Writer A.Mechling@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

There are many ways college students can get involved on campus and the surrounding community. Volunteering is a great way for students to connect with and help people in the community.

For a lot of clubs and organizations on campus, volunteering and helping at different events is required. Many students need service hours in order to be an active member in a club or organization.

Besides volunteering at various pop-up events on campus, there are other places in the greater Indiana community students can help at. The Alice Paul House provides services to all individuals who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault or other violent crimes, regardless of age, sex, ethnic background or sexual orientation. The services are free and confidential to the individuals.

Those interested in volunteering can go through a free training course teaching them how to answer the 24-hour crisis hotline and help in other areas. Volunteers must complete two hotline shifts per month, and a minimum of 10 hours of supplemental training per year.

(Facebook) Local organizations, such as Four Footed Friends, give students the opportunity to volunteer or purchase food, toys, etc. for animals housed by the shelter.

In order to volunteer at the Alice Paul House, volunteers must have child abuse clearances and criminal background checks. Contact the education specialist and volunteer coordinator Whitney Carmichael at (724) 349-4444 or email whitney.mottorn@alicepaulhouse.org For those interested in working with the elderly population, Beacon Ridge is a great place to

volunteer. Volunteers would help with the assisting activities. You need to fill out an application, and for additional information, contact Debbie Fenner at (724) 349-5300.

The YMCA located on N. Ben Franklin Road has many extended volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. Volunteer involvement includes things like youth programs, senior programs, preschool programs, coaching

and teen and senior volunteer centers.

The YMCA does require child abuse and criminal background clearances. Call Bryant Pinder at (724) 463-9622 or ask for a volunteer application in person.

Applications are required to be volunteer coaches. Applications can be submitted at icymca.org, or contact the youth and family program director Michelle Wiersig at (724) 463-9622 or email michellewiersig@icymca.org.

United Way on Philadelphia Street needs volunteers to help them assemble mailing packets, make telephone calls and send out emails and run errands. Good communication skills and etiquette are sought out for telephone and email outreach. They are looking for students to be skilled in using office equipment like fax machines and copiers.

Resumes are required and can be sent to Terri Dominick at uwdominick@verison.net, and for additional questions or concerns call (724) 463-0277.

Four Footed Friends (FFF) is a non profit, no-kill animal shelter located on Beck Road providing a variety of assistance like veterinary care, rehabilitation and socialization to homeless animals.

FFF relies heavily on community volunteers helping out in posi-

tions like dog walking, telephone work, fundraising and grooming, just to name a few.

Helping out in any way is much appreciated by FFF. Getting wish list items like quality dog food, toys, beds and blankets and towels is much needed and appreciated.

For more information about volunteering, call (724) 349-1144, email fff@pghmail.com or stop by the shelter during business hours.

The IUP campus has some on-campus volunteer programs, too.

IUP Special Needs Activity Program (SNAP), located in Zink Hall, is a physical activity program for children and adults with disabilities.

Visit the SNAP website for more information or email Dr. David Lorenzi at David.Lorenzi@iup.edu to apply.

No clearances are needed.

There’s a vast array of places in Indiana that rely heavily on volunteers to help them with services and programs.

For more information on volunteer opportunities on campus or in Indiana, visit www.iup.edu/ servicelearning/services/volunteer-services/current-opportunities/ or do some research on Google and search places to volunteer in Indiana.

Department of Veterans Affairs questions protection of whistleblowers ALEXA DIAZ

Los Angeles Times TNS

A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs office created by the Trump administration to boost accountability and strengthen whistleblower protections within the VA has failed to do so, a report by the agency's inspector general concluded.

The 100-page report released Thursday determined that leadership shortcomings, misinterpretations of its own investigative authority and a lack of clear policy and procedures ultimately created an office that was "alienating to the very individuals it was meant to protect."

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to improve healthcare for veterans and the efficiency of the VA after a waiting-list scandal in 2014 raised concerns about veterans' care.

Trump created the Office of Accountability and Whistleblow-

(TNS) President Trump established the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, but Veterans Affairs officials question the effectiveness of it.

er Protection with an executive order in April 2017, charging it with holding senior executives accountable for misconduct, preventing retaliation against whistleblowers and addressing poor performance among senior executives.

But as of May, the report found, the VA had removed just one senior manager, while more

than 8,630 other employees had been let go since June 2017, when the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act became law.

The report also determined that, from June 2017 to May 2018, the office redirected more than 2,500 submissions from would-be whistleblowers – including some within its own

investigative authority – to other sectors of the VA that weren't equipped to take on such investigations and without having a system in place to track those submissions or protect whistleblowers' identities.

"Without guidance, OAWP personnel did not take sufficient steps to protect complainants' identities and prevent their concerns from being sent to the very facilities or network offices where the complainant worked or that were the subject of the allegations," the report said.

The report also detailed how the office "failed to establish safeguards sufficient to protect whistleblowers from becoming the subject of retaliatory investigations."

It described a case in which the office opened an investigation against a whistleblower at the request of a senior leader who had "social ties" to an official within the office and other instances in which office leadership "made comments

and took actions that reflected a lack of respect for individuals they deemed 'career' whistleblowers."

The report also cited shortfalls including failures to implement whistleblower protection training for all employees, submit congressionally mandated reports and revise supervisors' performance plans.

The watchdog report ultimately made 22 recommendations, which included a call for an audit of the office for its compliance with the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017.

The report comes as President Donald Trump has launched a series of public attacks on the intelligence community whistleblower whose complaint triggered an impeachment inquiry into his presidency. Trump has described the whistleblower in the investigation as a "partisan hack" and "close to a spy"and has called for their identity to be revealed.

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Computer science students take first in CAE-NE Regional Hackathon ABE ESHELMAN

Staff Writer A.Eshelman@iup.edu @DukeOfKalos

The IUP Cyber Security Club took first place in the annual CAE-NE Regional Hackathon against eight other U.S. college teams.

The 12-person IUP Hackathon team consisted of Douglas Cole, Chase Geis, Josh Griffith, Kaishia Ieraci, David Kornish, Brooklyn Kotula, James Lutz, Franklin May, Victor Sansing, Daniel Saylor, Duncan Taylor and Tim Valentine.

The Hackathon traditionally consists of teams racing to quickly create a program that fits the event’s theme and score parameters, according to Geis (junior, computer science).

However, this year’s Hackathon focused on cyber security.

The event consisted of “capture the flag challenges,” Ieraci (junior, computer science/software engineering) said, “where we would try to decode things or break into websites (made for the challenge) to find flags.”

The event’s organizers and hacking professionals formed a group of penetration testers (the black team), who would “attempt to break into the blue team's systems and disable their services.”

The student competitors, such as the IUP team, took the role of blue team. Some team members had to play offensively to capture the flag, and others defended their system from the black team’s attacks.

“The main things we needed to look for were any extra background processes that were running that we did not expect,” Geis said. “The main signs that we always looked for were extra SSH keys, connections to the computer that we weren't using and any service that was

(TNS) Elizabeth Warren has a slim lead against Democratic opponent Joe Biden.

Election: Warren, Biden tie broken following latest poll CAITLYN WEBBER Bloomburg News TNS (IUP Website) Twelve computer science students, led by faculty member Ezekiel Soundararajan, defeated eight other U.S. universities and colleges in the 2019 CAE-NE Hackathon. This competition was judged on students’ speed and cybersecurity skills.

running that was not needed to score points on the system. The black hats would rotate between teams implementing attacks and then giving them time to recover and potentially learn from their mistakes.”

Geis said that there would be some time in between cyber-attacks so that the students could recover from the previous attack and prepare for the next, and so the black team could target each school’s team at the same time. Until the last 15 minutes, Geis said the team was prepared to deal with almost any attack.

“The black team went all out for the final 15 minutes,” Geis said, “and took down most of our services using extremely obscure techniques that we were not prepared for at the time.”

Effective communication and division of labor was necessary for the IUP team to win, Taylor (senior, computer science) said.

“Good communication

“Good communication

allowed us to fully utilize the

unique skills of each member.”

- Duncan Taylor senior, computer science

allowed us to fully utilize the unique skills of each member,” he said, “and efficiently work towards solutions.

“When one member ran into an issue, they were able to almost immediately request the assistance of a member who had expertise in that area. There was very little judgement and no lone wolves, and ultimately I think that teamwork is what won us the competition.”

Taylor said that cyber security is “always competitive.”

“By its very nature, there are always at least two opposing forces,” Taylor said, “those with private data and those attempting to illegally access that data.

“Simulated competitions like the Hackathon aim to accurately emulate scenarios that professionals might encounter in the real world.”

After graduating, Ieraci would like to work for the Department of Defense or develop video games. Geis wants to become a security architect.

The cyber security club is “interested in the world of cyber security and information assurance,” Taylor said, “we accept all majors; all you need is a concern for data security, which affects everyone.

“We meet once a week to discuss breaking news in the field, discuss how cyber security effects national politics and international affairs, and practice cyber security methods.”

Elizabeth Warren has edged ahead of Joe Biden after the two candidates were essentially tied for weeks, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll showing her with the support of 28 percent of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters.

Recent Quinnipiac surveys have shown Warren essentially tied with Biden, but the poll released Thursday reveals her leading all rivals outside of the margin of error. Biden came in second, with support of 21percent of voters, followed by Bernie Sanders at 15 percent and Pete Buttigieg at 10 percent.

The survey, conducted Oct. 17 – 21, has a margin of error of

plus-or-minus 3.1 percentage points.

A Sept. 25 Quinnipiac national poll showed Warren with support from 27 percent of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, compared with 25 percent for Biden, a result well within the margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.

The latest Quinnipiac survey stands in contrast to a CNN national poll released Wednesday that found Biden posting his widest lead since April, earning the support of 34 percent of Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters. Warren was second with 19 percent followed by Bernie Sanders with 16 percent. The CNN poll, conducted Oct. 17 – 20, has a margin of error of 5.8 percentage points.

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UPenn receives grant to study brain-related injuries STACY BURLING

Philadelphia Inquirer TNS

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania will lead an international team in a new project to study relationships between brain injuries and various types of neurodegeneration that lead to dementia symptoms.

The work will be supported by a five-year, $9.7 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging, Penn announced Thursday.

The project, called CONNECT-TBI (traumatic brain injury), will be co-led by Douglas H. Smith, director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair and a professor of neurosurgery at Penn, and William Stewart, a neuropathologist who works at the University of Glasgow and is also an adjunct associate professor of neurosurgery at Penn.

In recent years, there has been much publicity about sports figures and military veterans who have developed dementia after suffering concussions earlier in their lives. Researchers who have

(TNS) A grant worth $9.7 million will allow the University of Pennsylvania to lead a project that studies CTE and other brain-related injuries.

examined their brains after death have identified a type of neurodegeneration called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is characterized by a particular pattern of cellular changes at the base of folds in the brain, Smith said.

But CTE is only one type of neurodegeneration associated with brain injury, he said. He thought the field needed a broader term, so he invented one: TReND, for TBI-related neurodegeneration.

The NIH suggested a term, too, but, he said, it was "not nearly as catchy." As evidence, he couldn't remember what it was. After some research he reported that it was NATBI, short for Neuropathological Assessment of TBI-related Neurodegeneration and Neurocognitive Decline.

In the study, scientists will analyze information from brain banks and data sets of brain injury and dementia cases. They will compare the brains of people who have had brain injuries with the brains of peers who have not, to shed light on how injuries affect risks and how patterns of TReND differ. Smith is also interested in learning how to diagnose people earlier in the disease process.

The researchers will study how many concussions are needed to increase risk and how severity of injury affects later brain damage.

There is a popular belief that even one concussion could cause dementia years later. Smith said he even received an email from a young man who had had a concussion and was so worried about his future brain health that he was afraid to get married. Smith thinks there's more to it than that.

"The number one genetic risk factor for having a concussion or head injury is the Y chromosome," he said.

Yet women are more likely to get Alzheimer's than men of the same age.

It simply can't be just one concussion," he said.

Smith said scientists are in the early stages of understanding CTE. Some researchers have reported seeing similar pathological changes in people who did not have a history of traumatic brain injury.

More broadly, people who have had brain injuries may show pathological changes to the proteins tau and amyloid beta in their brains that are similar to those with Alzheimer's disease, Smith said. There also can be brain atrophy, chronic inflammation and damage to the brain's "electric grid." The researchers will be looking for patterns of brain changes.

Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, and depression.

The research will also involve scientists from the University of California San Francisco, Harvard University, Stanford University, Mount Sinai and New York University, Columbia University, University of Toronto, University of Washington, University of Pittsburgh, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and the Department of Defense Medical Research and Materiel Command.

Fund planning could run into next calendar year, Shelby wants stopgaps JENNIFER SCHUTT CQ-Roll Call TNS

Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby said the next continuing resolution to fund government agencies beyond the current stopgap's Nov. 21 expiration might have to run beyond the end of this calendar year – perhaps into early spring.

"Unless a miracle happens around here with the House and the Senate, we will have to come forth with another CR," said Shelby, R-Ala., noting that next February or March is "probably in the ballpark."

Shelby said he'd prefer a shorter stopgap but that the House's impeachment inquiry and possible Senate trial will likely take all of the "oxygen out of the room" until the process is over.

"Looming on the horizon is what's going on in the House re-

(TNS) Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby sayid that, unless a miracle happens, planning for government agencies could cross over into next year.

garding the process of impeachment, if there is an impeachment resolution adopted over there and a trial over here," he said.

The next stopgap appears likely to encompass every Cabinet department and federal agency that requires annual appropria-

tions, according to Shelby. That's a signal that House and Senate negotiators are unlikely to work out agreement on any of the 12 fiscal 2020 bills, including the eight noncontroversial spending bills the Senate Appropriations Committee approved with broad bipartisan support in September.

Shelby said it would be "very, very" optimistic to expect any of the annual spending bills to become law before the current stopgap expires, right before a scheduled weeklong break for Thanksgiving.

Senate Appropriations ranking member Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., indicated that the slowdown in negotiations over final spending levels might be caused by the White House's inability to tell congressional Republicans what the administration is willing to accept.

"As one of the Republicans told me, it's difficult because the

White House will tell them one thing one day and something entirely different the next day," Leahy said, adding that there is also frustration over having to deal with acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, "who was so proud to never vote for an appropriations bill" when he represented South Carolina in the House.

"In my experience, which is 44 years, I've never seen this from either a Republican or Democratic White House," Leahy continued.

"They might negotiate on numbers, but then you get a figure."

The Senate is currently debating a four-bill spending package consisting of measures that received unanimous votes in committee, but leaders have not yet reached agreement on which amendments will receive votes.

Debate is expected to last into next week, according to Shelby.

Opinion

With life’s frustrations, show kindness, compassion to those around you each day I had the pleasure of attending the memorial service Thursday for Brian Swatt, a prominent member of the IUP community, and I learned a few things.

The first was the immense impact one student could have on a university.

How one person could fit in Student Government, the Board of Governors for the State System of Higher Education, multiple off-campus jobs, a fraternity, a relationship and a social life, I will never understand. Very few students would even attempt such a strenuous schedule, let alone making it look easy.

The service was proof that he touched the lives of so many, as countless members of IUP’s Greek life, a number of IUP administration, Indiana residents he had served in the community, employers and friends packed into Toretti Auditorium in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex to celebrate a wonderful life.

As much as those in attendance cried, sniffled and blew our noses, we also laughed.

Each speaker made sure to include a heartwarming story of Brian, from President Driscoll remembering Brian delivering pizza to house, to Brian’s best friend Carson delivering a heartbreakingly inspirational tribute to his brother. They told the audience it was important to remember all the good things about Brian even if it hurts.

So with that, the second thing I took away was to show kindness and compassion to people who are still around.

Every day we face issues that cause us to become frustrated and angry, issues that are microscopic in the grand scheme of life. We lash out at friends and family. We rage about an event far after it’s over.

And for what?

Each moment spent hating is a moment wasted.

Every time a community loses one of its members, it’s a natural process to examine your own life

Opinion

CARTOONS

(John Vasas III/ The Penn) The Brian Swatt memorial service was held Thursday in the Toretti Auditorium at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

and actions. We say to cherish each other and sure one another feels love. We say to go out and live life to the fullest and try our hardest every time.

But many of us forget these things until we are faced with loss yet again.

Each person draws motivation from different places, so I won’t tell you to use grief as a push to go out and make something of yourself during your time on Earth.

That’s up to you.

What I am going to tell you to do is be kind to one another and don’t sweat the little stuff. It’s easier said than done, I know.

But the aggravation you feel from that hard class will pass. You will make it out of that stressful interview in one piece. That fight with your friend isn’t worth the heartache.

Tell your friends how much you love and appreciate them. Not just today, but every single day. And mean it. The same goes with your family and any person you feel deserves to know.

Ground yourself in love, and

you will radiate it.

Thursday we celebrated a beautiful life lived by Brian Henry Swatt.

To say that he should be viewed as an example by all of us would be an understatement. As someone who didn’t know Brian well, I can attest that the loss of him is felt by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.

To his friends, families, brothers, girlfriend, employers and mentors, The Penn would again like to express our deepest condolences.

To those who would like to help with the continuation of Brian’s legacy, his brothers in Kappa Sigma have created a scholarship in his name to “provide future students of the same character and potential the opportunity to achieve their excellence and follow in Brian’s footsteps.” Please consider donating here: alumni.iup. edu/s/894/15/index-1col.aspx.

(Chandler Bouton) Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave testimony to Congress this week about the social media giant’s plans to launch a new cryptocurrency called Libra. Zuckerberg was also questioned about Facebook’s dubious practices regarding false information and targeted political advertisements.

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October 25, 2019

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Culture

Culture Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu

(Haley Brown/ The Penn) The “Pushing Petals” exhibit features work from Jillian Dickson and Elaine Quave. The pieces combine elements of the human body with elements of nature.

Art exhibit fuses human anatomy with nature HALEY BROWN Staff Writer H.Brown@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Sprowls Hall is hosting a dual art exhibit in the Kipp Gallery for artists Elaine Quave and Jillian Dickson.

The showing of “Pushing Petals” runs from Oct. 8 to Nov. 1.

Both artists wanted to examine the complexities of the cycles of birth and death as well as highlight the numerous connections and similarities between the anatomy of the human body and structures found often in nature.

The driving idea behind the art was that we as a species are permanently connected to nature.

The show is meant to exhibit how dependent we are on the ecosystems around us to sustain our lives.

The art is meant to drive the mind toward the recognition that nature will always be vital to our survival.

“Pushing Petals” fuses the anatomy of the human body with structures in nature, such as plants and insects, and the work seeks to dissolve the imagined divisiveness we have assumed when it comes to our connection, or lack thereof, with the natural world.

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(Haley Brown/ The Penn) “Bloodroot” (left) and “Yellow Clitonia” (right) were two sculptures presented at the art exhibit.

This exhibit is a visual representation that humanity and nature are not separate entities at all, but one single unit.

Quave’s works in the show consist of ceramic sculptures that depict interesting fusions of plant anatomy and human anatomy. She used porcelain human bones to simulate certain plant structures and to communicate how closely connected the cycles of life and death are.

Quave’s works in the exhibit also remind the viewer to

acknowledge the many negative impacts we are having on our environments and calls to mind the environmental losses, the losses of true biodiversity and how the age we are living in has been termed the Anthropocene, or “the age of man,” known to be characterized by the devastating impact human actions have caused to the planet’s natural processes and habitats.

Dickson’s art in the exhibit is meant to remind the viewer of the female body and the incredible things it is capable of.

October 25, 2019

Dickson’s works are illustrations fusing images of human organs, flowers, ribbons and creatures such as butterflies and birds to connect the female body with wild nature.

The drawings are meant to depict the female body alongside natural processes such as the blooming of flowers to connect the two entities of human and nature and transform them into a single whole.

Dickson uses classic imagery of the female body being fragile and beautiful by creating blooming and budding flowers, the exquisite

delicacy of butterfly wings and flowing, floating ribbon. She pairs these gentle features with contrasting images of starkly veined tissue, thick taught ropes colored with almost-violent shades of reds and purples and images of placentas to drive home the strength of the female body’s capabilities, despite the societal expectations for how a female body is to look. Her works remind the viewer of innate female strength and resilience and how nature is forever pushing onward in its infinite cycles.

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(Ashley Lutz/ The Penn) Dr. Elizabeth Ricketts hosted a lecture Wednesday celebrating the right for women to vote.

Women received the legal right to vote 100 years ago Wednesday LEVI DONALDSON

Staff Writer L.Donaldson@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The U.S. recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of women having the legal right to vote.

As a way of commemorating this event, Dr. Elizabeth Ricketts, of the history department, hosted an informative event Wednesday celebrating the anniversary of such a breakthrough in American history.

There was a large turn out, so much so that there weren’t enough chairs, and more than half a dozen people sat on the ground or stood. The event had cookies, water, flyers and little packets of earbuds, phone holders and more littering the tables for people to take.

However, despite the cause for celebration, not everyone feels as though the 100-year anniversary date is as important as it might be presented.

“Only some women have been able to vote for a hundred years,” Rhea Simon (sophomore, political science) said. “White women. And honestly, it was the rich. Politics then weren’t as streamlined or availed to women as they are now.

(Ashley Lutz/ The Penn) Dr. Lynn Botelho and Dr. Elizabeth Ricketts spoke at Wednesday’s event celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage.

“It still wasn’t women’s sphere.

This is like celebrating a C on a test: it was really important for the time, but it was a small victory.”

That being said, the event was mostly focused on some of the history of women’s suffrage. Most of the turnout were older audience members, mostly women, who weren’t students that had come in commemoration of the egalitarian advances made. The event was set up not solely as a presentation but as an interactive discussion intended to draw people in and really think on it.

Ricketts started the conversation by talking about the concept of “image.” The white and purple imagery associated with women’s suffrage has meaning behind it.

The purple stands for loyalty, and the white is to show virtue.

She likened this to political symbols today that are worn, such as the partisan red hats to the protesters’ pink hats. The idea of creating an image creates an unwavering sensibility to the movement.

It’s wearing a political ideology on your sleeve, so to speak. For the event, Ricketts herself wore purple.

The fashion associated with the movement was also important to maintaining credibility. The clothing of the time showed status and was a sign of being respectful. The idea that the women were trying to act like men by wanting suffrage was also combated by the white dresses and purple sashes.

An argument for women’s suffrage was an appeal for a more nurturing voter demographic. This refuted the idea that women didn’t need to vote because nothing would change.

Many people opposed women’s

suffrage and spread propaganda, made arrests and otherwise harassed the movement. Industrialists opposed the movement because they were worried that female voting would lead to more strict and moral workplace laws to be passed. The southern populace also antagonized the movement because they were worried that women’s suffrage actions would undo discrimination against other minority groups.

The Jim Crow mentality was still in heavy effect.

One of the women from the audience spoke to the Quakers’ impact on suffrage and how they were very anti-slavery and pro-suffrage. She said that she and many other attendees were from the League of Women Voters. She provided a lot of insight as well into how this League was started by the suffrage movement and how they continue to take influence from the history of it.

Overall, it was a politically moderate presentation that encouraged communication and education toward the issues that matter. There was a positive atmosphere and a great amount of community support.

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(Facebook) Homeboy Sandman’s new album, “Dusty,” came out Friday.

New music for the weekend LEVI DONALDSON

Staff Writer L.Donaldson@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

(Facebook) The cast of Hulu’s original show “Letterkenny.,” a Canadian cult comedy that aired February 2016, is back for Season 7.

‘Letterkenny’ returns for seventh season ALEXIS LOYA

Staff Writer A.L.Loya@iup.edu @lexisloya

This article contains opinion.

Pitter patter because the hicks, skids and hockey players of “Letterkenny” are back on Hulu for Season 7.

For those that don’t know, “Letterkenny” is a Canadian sitcom created by Jared Keeso, who plays Wayne, and features residents in the small town of Letterkenny.

There are 5,000 people in Letterkenny, and the main character, Wayne, is the toughest of them all.

Wayne, his buddies Squirrelly Dan and Dary and his sister, Katy, are the hicks that sit outside on their farm drinking beers before they get back to “chorin’.”

The skids are the “emo druggies,” and they’re always getting into some sort of trouble. Stewart is in charge of it.

The hockey players, Reilly and Jonesy, are the inseparable jocks of the town that can’t catch a break with snipes (ladies) or their brutal roast sessions from their hockey team.

The Christian, Glen, is the upclose and personal preacher.

When a friend asks for help, you help him, and Season 7’s first episode begins with a show within a show. Wayne, Squirrelly Dan and

Dary (the hicks) host their own callin show called “Crack an Ag” (agriculture) to help the 5,000 people of the town with their problems.

“Welcome to ‘Crack an Ag,’ and bet ya can’t so,” as Wayne would say.

With Glen the Christian as their director and Katy as the producer, the hicks answer live calls from their small town to help “figguritout” about agricultural problems. Although, after every “how’re ya now” from Wayne, the conversations somehow aren’t agriculturally related.

“Crack an Ag” isn’t the only hick show this season. McMurray hosts his own show called “AgriCult,” but he isn’t so lucky with his audience.

To conclude the first episode, everyone comes together to celebrate the engagement of Wayne and Marie-Fred by “getting hammered” at their stump fire.

In the second episode, the hicks get a little tired of the pointless conversations from callers on their show and implement soccer’s “yellow card” and “red card” system into their everyday life.

“When someone’s being a dink,” says Wayne, “you give ‘em a yellow card. If they’re still being a tit, give ‘em a red card. Two strikes and you’re out.”

The hicks are tough judges, and the hockey players, skids, McMurray, Glen and Gail (owner of MoDean’s bar) face harsh criticism

in this episode.

The Letterkenny crew is in a bad way in the third episode, and a lot of the characters struggle with their own problems after being caught up trying to help other people with their problems. Dary has a road rage incident, the hockey players upset they don’t belong to a hockey team and Squirrelly Dan has a hard time coming to terms with, well, you’ll have to watch it for yourself.

On a happier note, Wayne and Katy battle it out in the yearly “Sister vs. Brother fundraising challenge in support of Don Cherry’s Pet Rescue Foundations” in the fourth episode. Whoever collects the most paint cans full of pennies wins. Place your bets before you watch it.

The fifth episode starts to get action-packed. Tanis, the no-nonsense chick of Letterkenny, tries to buy the Native’s hockey team, The Eagles. Their coach, unwilling to just give up his team, agrees to a bet with Tanis. If she can get a team together and beat The Eagles, then she can have the team.

Slowly but surely, the Letterkenny Irish are resurrected.

The hicks have had enough of “Crack an Ag,” and the season finale is the end of their show. The Letterkenny Irish play The Eagles in an intense hockey game. To top it off, the hicks go with Dary to Quebec, and they weren’t expecting what they saw, and neither will you… allegedly.

There are so many artists that go under the radar. Some of them are completely unheard of and definitely deserving of attention, while others maybe aren’t worth the hype.

Here’s a guide to some of the most recent music out there.

These albums and EPs are all easily available on streaming services.

“Dusty” by Homeboy Sandman The merits of this album are some well-done vocals, clever wordplay and diverse beats.

However, for me, these weren’t enough to balance out the crude, aimless and mostly overwhelming album.

I’d heard good things about Homeboy Sandman, and he does have the ability and the talent to craft lyrics, but I feel as if he just isn’t a relatable or engaging presence on this record. The interludes and musical experimentation that tries to patch this together as a cohesive project seem like an afterthought and don’t add to the experience at all. There are sparks of creativity on “Dusty,” but for the most part, leave it on the shelf.

“Number on the gate” by turnover This EP is short and sweet. It consists of only four songs but has a calm, musical atmosphere that serves as great background music.

The biggest problem is that this project just isn’t engaging.

The EP is a precursor for their forthcoming album, “Altogether,” although this doesn’t nec-

essarily excite me for it. It’s not a bad project by any means, but it wasn’t enough to make me a fan.

But if you’re looking for something accessible and calming, then throw this one.

“Ghosts” by American Gentlemen These top two spots are somewhat interchangeable. Both came out of nowhere, and I enjoyed both of them thoroughly.

However, “Ghosts” is a very enjoyable EP that serves as a seasonal greeting as well. Its electronics are far from generic, and the better parts reminded me a little bit of Kanye West. The production is great, and the vocals ride it, painting a picture that is sometimes spooky and other times motivational.

The opening track, “Ghosts,” is a haunted, almost soulful lo-fi track that beautifully sets the tone of the project. The song “The Unknown” contains lilting background vocals that set the stage for the atmospheric storytelling.

Overall, this is a great little project that makes me want to keep an eye on American Gentlemen and see where they go.

“What would the odd do?” by guerilla toss As the title suggests, this is a wonderfully bizarre project that features wild, swirling, energetically creative production that has oddly voiced vocals and lots of kids. The lyrics talk of tigers and choirs and a bunch of creative absurdism. They remind of a poppier and more upbeat Death Grips.

The pure shot of energy and imagination makes “What Would the Odd Do?” a refreshing and unique project that is definitely worth the listen.

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Creators of ‘Pokemon’ have new game for fans to try ABE ESHELMAN

Staff Writer A.Eshelman@iup.edu @DukeOfKalos

This article contains opinion.

GameFreak, the developers of the “Pokemon” franchise, released a new game, “Little Town Hero” on Oct. 16.

The game is a cell-shaded, turn-based RPG with a focus on strategy. Instead of a mana system like traditional RPGs, or PP like in “Pokemon, “Little Town Hero” has a system consisting of Izzits, Dazzits and action points. Izzits, or ideas, are possible attacks and moves one could use, such as slam or tight guard, to fight against an enemy.

Izzits have a cost in action points before they can be used. Once unlocked with action points, which are built up over time in battle, an Izzit becomes a Dazzit. A dazzit is an action you can select for that turn of combat.

There are three many types of attacks: red, yellow and blue. Blue attacks do not take up your turn and can be used in conjunction with other attacks to set up an effective combo, such as boosting the damage of all your attacks, throwing a rock to directly damage your opponent or adding a new possible move. Yellow attacks involving blocking or shielding and can be used multiple times if their durability remains. Red attacks are offensive and cannot be used again after being used.

Whenever attacks (other than blue) are selected, your character, Axe, and your opponent clash, and the stats of your selected action, attack and defense, are compared against your opponent’s stats. If the defense of either attack reaches zero due to clashing, the attack will “break.”

The goal of each fight is to break all your opponent’s attacks so you can perform an “All Break.” Whenever all your opponent’s moves have been destroyed, you can directly attack them with a red move and deal damage to their health or their Guts (armor) depending on the fight. Whether it’s through All Breaks, piercing damage (red attacks that deal damage in clashes and directly to your opponent) or direct damage like “Firecracker,” depleting your opponent’s health leads to victory.

Another way to deal damage to your opponent, strengthen your moves or break your opponent’s moves is the Support system, a core gameplay element of “Little

(Facebook) “Little Town Hero,” a new game from GameFreak, promises new fun for players.

Town Hero.” Throughout the story of the game, the player’s character befriends many villagers in their hometown who aid in battle. All the characters have their own unique support skill which can be used once per battle with a variety of effects.

Aggressive characters like Matock deal damage, while more supportive characters like Mina restore guts. By playing through the story, you can unlock new supports and friends and strengthen or change the supports your friends can use.

New supports can also be unlocked by completing side quests, such as investigating a mysterious girl or testing out an updated weapon with the local blacksmith.

Supports can also be used with inanimate objects and animals in the nearby area, by combining specific attacks, such as Slam, and specific environmental objects, such as a cannon. These environmental attacks are called gimmicks.

Defeating opponents requires utilization of supports, gimmicks and ideas effectively.

The final combat aspect is the use of BP. It is earned in several ways, such as upgraded versions of the Firecracker skill but is primarily earned through performing an All Break on your opponent, without having a red attack to attack with.

BP is used to swap your current available Izzits and Dazzits with other Izzits out of a pool of potential attacks, known as the Headspace.

BP’s other purpose is reviving ideas,

which allows you to reuse moves that have already been used, broken or destroyed through combat, opponent effects or negation.

The game’s art style is a cute, simplistic cell-shaded design, reminiscent of the “Toon Link” games, such as “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.” The characters have distinct designs, relying primarily on primary-colored hair to easily distinguish characters.

Each of the characters have a few action animations, such as walking, laughing or a battle-ready pose. These are sometimes great, such as a detailed animation for Margo whenever she is using her support, but other characters reuse their animations too often.

Granny Yarne uses the same funny dance move so many times that it stops being funny. The character who suffers the most from this, unfortunately, is Axe, the player character. Clashes have the same animation every time of Axe either blocking a hit or throwing himself against an attack without any flair.

In terms of attack animations, during an All Break or a battle without Guts, Axe has only two attacking animations, a clear “finishing move” and a weaker strike, which leave the animations feeling more repetitive and stilted than even “Pokemon.” The game itself was developed using the Unity engine, however, so complex animation and a higher budget were most likely not possible for the team.

While the monsters also have

very few animations, their designs are amazing. The game’s development team includes several of the founders of GameFreak and designers for the first “Pokemon” game, including Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, as well as musical composition by “Undertale” developer Toby Fox. The designs are stylish, eye-catching and distinct, balancing intimidation and the game’s art style well.

The only complaint I have about the designs is the repetition near the end of the game. An optional side quest leads you to getting another black stone, after a plant/ bug monster attacks you and eats the last black stone.

Upon getting the black stone, however, another bug monster attacks you. The two monsters are connected, but their designs still meant that the fight was very similar.

The worst offender is the fact that all humans that become monsters become Hulk Ogres, the first monster your player encounters, leading to several fights with the same species of monster, with only color and difficulty to differentiate them. The final boss’ design, however, is phenomenal.

The game’s difficulty is high and strange. Fights drag on for far too long, leaving the player feeling trapped.

The game’s difficulty spikes on the second or third fight, but then levels out to be manageable all the way until the final two fights. The

second-to-last boss is a nightmare to fight for one simple reason. The boss, who will be nameless due to spoilers, uses a move called “Countdown.” Countdown damages the player for taking more than 10 seconds to choose all attacks.

This is an unfair punishment, due to how difficult the fight is even without countdown and how much strategy and calculation is involved in these battles.

The last boss fight, a large dragon-like monster, is also incredibly difficult. However, my major complaint about this fight is that it relies on random chance and that you can trap yourself in a bad situation. The fight requires you to meet up with three friends from each location, as the fight pauses and moves location each time the boss takes damage, to break guts that are otherwise unbreakable.

The issue is that moving to specific friends requires the player to perfectly time their moves that give free mobility, like Dash Guard, or pray that they perfectly roll the number they need on the die used to move forward. This is compounded further by the fact that the final boss has moves that trap you in place and do not let you move forward without breaking them, while also having a “Counter” effect, damaging the player for breaking this attack, at the same time.

The worst part is that there is no way to heal your hearts between each fight, and so the game even recommends that you return to a previous save and start over or start from partway through the fight if you are too damaged to win in the final phase. Without the incredibly long battles, with some bordering on not fun after a while, the game feels a bit short as well, with a runtime greatly varying on your performance in battle.

Despite my grievances with its difficulty, battle length and battle animations, I did greatly enjoy “Little Town Hero.” The game has charming characters, a surprisingly deep story, an adorable art style, engaging combat mechanics, a decent supply of side quests and fantastically designed monsters.

I recommend the game to those who enjoy games like “Pokémon,” but they may find it challenging.

I also recommend the game for players who equally enjoy games that require quick and intelligent strategy, as well as lovable characters and deep stories, such as fans of “Fire Emblem” or “Undertale.”

The game overall scores an 8/10 from me.

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(Facebook) “Catherine the Great” is HBO’s newest four-part series.

Helen Mirren rules in ‘Catherine the Great’ ROBERT LLOYD TNS Los Angeles Times

This article contains opinion.

“Don’t call me ma’am, I’m not the bloody queen,” Helen Mirren, as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, memorably said to a subordinate in “Prime Suspect.”

That might have been true of Tennison, but not of Mirren, who her innate, earthy queenliness aside has played many monarchs on screen and stage: Elizabeth I in the 2005 miniseries “Elizabeth I” and Elizabeth II the next year in Stephen Frears’ film “The Queen;” Queen Charlotte in the film of “The Madness of King George;” Titania, Queen of the Fairies in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for the BBC; the title character in the 1995 animated “The Snow Queen;” Lady Macbeth, who was queen of Scotland for a hot minute; and Milonia Caesonia, Malcolm McDowell’s missus in the bonkers smutfest “Caligula.”

Now, in “Catherine the Great,” HBO (in collaboration with Sky) has cast her as Russia’s most famous, unfairly infamous empress. I imagine she was on a short list of one. (All the more so, since the new series was written

by Nigel Williams, who wrote “Elizabeth I.”) The dramatic dynamic is this: Catherine, who became ruler of Russia by overthrowing her own husband, Peter II, in a coup d’etat, is beset by various challenges

to the throne. Pretenders keep popping up; the serfs regularly get restless. Meanwhile, Catherine keeps her simpering, sometimes scheming son Prince Paul (Joseph Quinn) on the sidelines. She wants a grandchild to leave the country to, not trusting her son. I cannot say whether we are meant to think of the British royal family, but I did.

Count Grigory Orlov (Richard Roxburgh), who helped put her on the throne and has been sharing her bed, is tired of waiting to be made an honest man -- that is to say, of waiting to be king. (Catherine was not a power sharer.) His position is not improved by the arrival of Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke), a lieutenant with a crush on Catherine.

Potemkin impresses her by knowing something about smallpox inoculation: Dr. Thomas Dimsdale has come to personally vaccinate Catherine, who hopes to provide an example to her people. “It’s a risk,” she says, “but then life’s a risk.”

Soon Catherine and Potemkin are lovers, but the ways of palace life the intrigue, the games -weigh on Potemkin.

“Love should be simple or it isn’t love,” he complains to Catherine’s kibbitzing confidante, Countess Bruce (Gina McKee), who asks him, “Why are you talking like a schoolgirl?” “Because that’s how she makes me feel,” Potemkin replies, “like a schoolgirl.”

As political history, “Cather-

(Facebook) Helen Mirren stars in HBO’s new show.

ine the Great” is sexed up -- its subject did not suffer from erotic repression -- but also, in a way, sexed down, because it means to redeem Catherine from centuries of calumny, innuendo, dirty jokes and scurrilous gossip we need not repeat here. Indeed, by HBO standards, it’s rather modest.

There’s a brief sexual situation featuring female nudity about 16 minutes into the first hour, and after that, sauciness is put mostly aside to focus on the central romance: “I’m not interested in debauchery,” says Catherine. “I’m interested in love. That is all that interests me.”

It is true that she likes to have a body around (those Russian nights are cold, baby), and various expendable partners whose names you will not need to remember come and go between Potemkin’s heading off to pacify the Cossacks, conquer the Turks, build

Sevastopol or create the Russian Navy. (I’m not sure it would have been possible to build an entire navy as a secret surprise for your sweetie, practically or politically, as Potemkin seems to do here, but I don’t know -- it’s a long way from St. Petersburg to the Black Sea.) As with most biopics, it is largely a matter of waiting around for history to happen, for the necessary points to be made. It is not a narrative powerhouse.

Though some drama is hung on the question of freeing the serfs, which Catherine raises at the series’ beginning, the only questions that really matter are whether she’ll keep her crown, which you can just look up, and whether she’ll pull a little personal happiness out of the world, which you trust the drama to tell you.

It’s the right (and probably only) choice to make her relationship with Potemkin the heart of the story, especially since it also encompasses their mutual patriotism. Their courtship is laced with lines like, “My darling, our dreams for Russia are finally coming true” and exchanges like “I want the Ministry of War.” “You shall have it!”

Sometimes Catherine is the uncannily canny, absolute boss of everything there’s a reason she’s called Great and sometimes she is just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her. Sometimes she is both at once.

Mirren is the reason to watch, and reason enough. It’s no knock

against the rest of the cast or the production designer or costumers or digital matte painters, who have all acquitted themselves bravely, even brilliantly, to say that there is no other particularly compelling reason to spend four hours in this slice of 18th century history.

Obviously, Catherine is the nail that holds it all together; other characters -- even Potemkin, called here “the great man of the age,” and whose name lives on via a battleship and the Sergei Eisenstein film about it -- matter only in relation to her. But Mirren too rules this show. No one steals a scene from her, even when she isn’t in it.

With a career that’s ranged from the classics to the “Fast and Furious” franchise -- yes, I know, that’s a classic too -- she seems made to play Catherine in her many moods and modes.

Actress and queen alike are spunky and sprightly, regal and vulgar; as did Catherine, reportedly, Mirren packs a lot of energy into a small package. She looks good in her big gowns and military finery, and she can rock a big fur hat like nobody’s business.

(There is a drag ball, and she looks good in that too.)

Shakespeare might have had Mirren in mind when he wrote, “Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale/Her infinite variety.”

He was thinking of Cleopatra, another queen Mirren has played, across the decades, as if to prove a point.

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How George Harrison rescued ‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian’ RANDY LEWIS TNS Los Angeles Times

This article contains opinion.

Once upon a time, a couple of desperate English filmmakers embarked on a quest to find a champion, and to their everlasting surprise, discovered one where they might have least expected it.

It was the late 1970s, and producer John Goldstone and Monty Python’s Flying Circus founding member Eric Idle trekked across the Atlantic with caps in hand to scramble together the money to make “Monty Python’s Life of Brian.” EMI Films had summarily backed out of the project, leaving Goldstone, who also produced the troupe’s debut feature film, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” and the Pythons flummoxed about what to do.

“Eric and I came to New York, and then we came out here and started going through everybody we knew,” Goldstone, 76, said this week from his home of more than a decade in Oxnard.

Enter a Beatle to the rescue: guitarist, singer and songwriter George Harrison.

“Eric said George had always been a huge Python fan, and Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam had become friendly with him,” Goldstone said. “So Eric said ‘Why don’t we see whether George could help?’ We went to his house in the Hollywood Hills, and I can’t remember if we had sent him the script or if he had read it, but he said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it.’ And that was it.”

Through Harrison’s manager, a boutique company, HandMade Films, was set up to handle the financing.

“We went to Denis and said ‘We want the same deal we had with EMI, which gave us full control and the final cut,’” Goldstone recalled. “He said ‘Fine-OK,’ and that was kind of that. It was terribly straightforward.”

The unlikely side effect was not just that “Life of Brian” was indeed completed and became a global hit commercially but that HandMade Films continued to produce other projects and became an important force in British cinema during the 1980s.

The company made enough films to merit its own celebratory festival, dubbed The (Other) HandMade’s Tale Film Festi-

(Facebook) “Life of Brian” became an instant classic after its release in 1979.

val, which runs through Oct. 20 at Laemmle’s Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. It is organized by English producer, humorist and Beatles authority Martin Lewis under the umbrella of the ongoing Mods & Rockers Film Festival, marking its 20th anniversary this year.

Among the projects earning a spotlight are additional Python pictures including Terry Gilliam’s “Time Bandits” (1981), “Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl “and Michael Palin’s “The Missionary” (both 1982) as well as Malcolm Mowbray’s “A Private Function” (1984) and director Neil Jordan’s acclaimed early film “Mona Lisa” (1986).

The latter film earned a best actor BAFTA award for relative newcomer Bob Hoskins, who had established his star credentials a few years earlier with “The Long Good Friday,” which was distributed by HandMade and also featured a breakout performance from Helen Mirren.

Various principals will take part in Q&A sessions before or after many of the screenings, which began this week with “An Accidental Studio,” a documentary about HandMade Films by Terry Jones’ son Bill Jones and his film collaborator Ben Timlett. Lewis will extend the festival briefly into November with a strategically timed screening of HandMade’s 1986 flop musical “Shanghai Surprise” starring Madonna and her then-new husband Sean Penn, to coincide with her residency at the Wiltern Theatre. It will screen Nov. 18 one of Madonna’s nights

off during the Wiltern run-at the Laemmle NoHo theater in North Hollywood, and tickets go on sale Monday. Lewis has invited her to be guest of honor for what he believes to be the film’s first major L.A. screening since it premiered in 1986.

The full schedule of screenings and special events can be found at the Mods & Rockers official website.

Goldstone, Medavoy and Lewis co-hosted a private reception Monday night in Hollywood that drew several of Harrison’s friends, family members and associates including the Who’s Pete Townshend and his wife, composer Rachel Fuller, actress Kathy Bates, lyricist Tim Rice, producer-talent manager-musician Peter Asher and Harrison’s sister-in-law and former HandMade executive Linda Arias.

Lewis also pulled together an ad-hoc band consisting of musicians who played with Harrison on different projects: guitarist Laurence Juber, bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, drummer Jim Keltner and singer Bird York, who teamed on performances of four of Harrison’s best-known songs.

But the surviving Python members were MIA for various reasons. Lewis noted that Palin recently had heart surgery and is unable to attend the festival. Idle had to cancel a recent appearance in England because of an unspecified “family emergency” and also is not expected to attend. Gilliam, the troupe’s lone American member, renounced

his U.S. citizenship years ago in political protest and is precluded from visiting more than 30 days a year, a number he’s already used up in 2019. Terry Jones is battling dementia and makes few public appearances.

English musician Neil Innes, sometimes referred to as “the seventh Python” because of his close association with the comedy ensemble, spoke about Harrison and HandMade in a separate interview. He was a friend and confidant of Harrison through his membership in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, a collective of art student-musicians that played around England roughly at the same time as the Beatles.

Innes, also known for his role as one of the Rutles, the Beatles sendup band created on the Python spinoff TV show “Rutland Weekend Television” and featured on “Saturday Night Live,” is currently emceeing a tour for the Bootleg Beatles. He acted and played music in various Python projects but was aced out of a more prominent onscreen role in “Life of Brian” because of the financing imbroglio.

“I was so looking forward to playing the soldier who was trying not to laugh at Michael Palin (as Pontius Pilate) because I knew I could take him on,” Innes, 74, said from his home in southwest France.

“Because of EMI pulling out its money and George stepping in, it was delayed six months, and by that time I was doing a British television series called ‘The Innes Book of Records,’” Innes said. “I

got a call from the (HandMade) film office because they had done the credits early on and I had already been given this huge credit. They said, ‘You’d better get down here and do something.’

So I ended up being the Samaritan being chased by gladiators and having a heart attack,” he said with a laugh. “It didn’t really stretch my talent.”

“I wish I could (be) there” in the States for the HandMade Festival, Innes said, adding that he is supportive of the effort because “A lot of people don’t know that side of George, who was much more of a Renaissance man than people think. He had a feeling for all kinds of things and, by golly, we all sure miss him.”

After turning out nearly two dozen films through the 1980s, HandMade was sold to new owners in the early 1990s.

“There were not many victories at that time,” he said, “so it was great when HandMade went on to make more films. ‘The Long Good Friday’ was another one.

George stepped in and rescued that,” another case of EMI Films getting cold feet, Goldstone said, when producer Sir Lew Grade considered the gangster film too violent.

HandMade distributed it to much acclaim and followed it by producing “Mona Lisa.”

“I think some American suits wanted to have Bob Hoskins’ voice dubbed,” Innes recalled, “but George resisted it. HandMade Films was a real player.

More people should know about the film-connoisseur Beatle.”

Sports VS.

Sports Editor: Elliot Hicks – E.Hicks@iup.edu Lead Sports Writer: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

1:30 p.m. MILLER STADIUM

IUP-TV Sports via Stretch Internet: Elliot Hicks, Tristen Borland, Mackenzie Aucker 92.5 WQMU-FM: Jack Benedict, Ab Dettore, Greg Drahuschak 90.1 WIUP-FM: Jamie Machin, Jake Slebodnick

(IUP and Gannon Athletics) The IUP Crimson Hawks will host the Gannon Golden Knights on Saturday at George P. Miller Stadium.

Playoff chase begins as Hawks host Gannon JEFF HART

Lead Sports Writer J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Get ready, Hawk Nation. Your IUP Crimson Hawk football team is coming back home, and the team is geared up and ready to go.

This week, the Hawks will take on the 2–5 Gannon Golden Knights, who have dropped their past three games.

Gannon comes into this matchup after a crushing 54–14 loss at the hands of California (Pa.). The Vulcans are a top-tier program in the PSAC and had great success

24

with stopping Gannon last week.

The Golden Knights rushed for an anemic 20 yards and turned the ball over three times.

The No. 19 Crimson Hawks are coming off a superb game against Clarion last week, in which they won 59–21. The Hawks had their best rushing performance of the season as they put up 370 yards on the ground between multiple backs.

Junior running back Justice Evans (business management) had a career-high 142-yard performance.

Freshman back Adam Houser (finance) joined Evans with 103 yards

and a touchdown. Malik Anderson (redshirt junior, kinesiology) also got involved in the running game as he put up 76 yards and two touchdowns against Clarion.

IUP was superb in the air as well and put up 231 passing yards and three touchdowns. Wideout Duane Brown (sophomore, sport administration) continued his steak of dominance with his seventh straight game with a touchdown.

Along with their offensive proclivity, the Hawks’ defense showed up and balled out as they caused the Golden Eagles to turn the ball over seven times.

October 25, 2019

It has been a tough stretch of games for Gannon after taking on the best run defense in Division II last week, and they now have to take on a nationally ranked team three hours away from home. Along with the long ride for GU, history is not on their side.

IUP has won the past four matchups against Gannon and has an 8–5 record against this squad dating back to 2008. Last year’s matchup took place in Erie, and the game was delayed for six hours due to Erie’s inhospitable weather conditions.

IUP took the game by a close

margin, 43–34. Gannon will have to find a way to stop IUP’s prolific offense that has averaged 47 points per game this season. The Hawks have averaged more than 35 points against the Golden Knights.

The Hawks are in a good position to make a playoff run and are hoping to climb the rankings each week, including in the first Super Region One rankings. IUP is one of six teams that are 6–1, and it is planning on continuing this streak of dominance.

One thing is for sure: Hawk fans are chomping at the bit to see their team in Miller Stadium once again.

Sports

October 25, 2019

Sports

25

Crimson Hawks Roundup ELLIOT HICKS

Sports Editor E.Hicks@iup.edu @ehicks39

All statistics accurate as of Oct. 23.

As the fall season is coming to a close for IUP Athletics, multiple teams are in the mix for spots in the postseason in their respective sports. The Crimson Hawks’ field hockey, football and soccer teams are certainly hoping to follow the leads of members of the golf and tennis teams and bring home conference or national accolades, but first they must qualify for the postseason.

FIELD HOCKEY: Currently, the IUP field hockey team is the first team out of the PSAC tournament. The Crimson Hawks are in seventh place in the conference; six teams qualify for the postseason. If IUP qualifies for the tournament, it would be the first time since 2016 that it participated in the postseason.

The first and second seeds earn first-round byes, likely to go to the pair of teams who have already clinched tournament berths: 15–0 West Chester and 14–2 East Stroudsburg, who share a combined one loss in the conference all season.

Things become much more interesting behind those two; currently Shippensburg holds the No. 3 seed with a 6–2 conference record (9–5 overall), with Kutztown half a game behind at 5–2 (10–4 overall). The teams at those seeds would host the quarterfinal matchups.

Currently at No. 5 is 4–3 Mansfield (10–5 overall), and Millersville’s rough conference record of 3–4 (11–4 overall) puts them in a dangerous position. IUP’s conference record is equal to the Marauders, who were ranked No. 1 in the country when the two teams faced off Oct. 5, but the Crimson Hawks’ 7–7 overall record puts them just out of the tournament.

IUP faces a tough road to clear that hurdle, but it certainly is pos-

(IUP Athletics) IUP soccer, football and field hockey are all coming close to earning a postseason spot.

sible. The Crimson Hawks picked up an important victory against Lindenwood Thursday night, defeating the non-conference opponent 2-1. IUP will play both Shippensburg and Kutztown in its final trio of games, with a matchup sandwiched in between at home against 3–11 Mercyhurst (1–6 in the PSAC) potentially serving as a boost for the team’s playoff chances as the most winnable game left on the schedule.

Of course, winning out is the best way to get into the tournament, considering IUP does play a pair of teams ahead of it in the standings before the regular season ends.

FOOTBALL: The football team has a very manageable path to the NCAA Division II postseason, looking to make its first playoff appearance since hosting a national semifinal in 2017.

The Crimson Hawks’ loss to Slippery Rock Oct. 12, the team’s only loss thus far, puts them one game behind The Rock for the top spot in the PSAC West division.

The winners of the East and West divisions play in the conference championship game Nov. 18, while the rest of the conference plays their final regular season matchups.

For the Crimson Hawks to play in the PSAC Championship game, they would have to win their remaining four games, and Slippery Rock would have to lose two of their remaining four, none of which will come against nationally ranked opponents, as The Rock would hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their victory in the head-to-head matchup.

The four remaining opponents on the IUP schedule have a combined record of 7–20, earning just one more victory than IUP’s six wins in 2019.

The Crimson Hawks would likely have to win the remainder of their games to earn a postseason spot, but if they do, they could earn a favorable ranking in Super Region One, the regional conference grouping which includes the PSAC that determines the first three rounds of the national playoffs.

The first regional rankings will be released following this weekend’s games, but looking at the AFCA

Coaches’ Poll released Monday, IUP would be on track to potentially host a first-round playoff game.

The highest-ranked team in Super Region One is No. 6 Notre Dame (Ohio), who would have a first-round bye in the postseason.

Slippery Rock, currently tied for ninth, would be the No. 2 seed.

No. 17 Kutztown would be the No. 3 seed, but if the Golden Bears win the PSAC East and defeat Slippery Rock in the conference championship, they would almost certainly jump The Rock in the rankings.

The Crimson Hawks, at No. 19, would be the No. 4 seed in the region. If those rankings stay the same, that would have the Crimson Hawks hosting No. 21 West Chester at Miller Stadium – but the Nov. 2 matchup between Kutztown and the Golden Rams could swap those teams as well.

At the end of the day, IUP currently controls its destiny for a postseason spot, and winning each of its remaining four games will do wonders toward getting it there.

SOCCER: IUP soccer’s recent hot streak,

which has seen the team win five of its last six games, has vaulted the team into a postseason spot with five games remaining in the regular season.

It appears 2019 will see the return of the best four teams from the East and West divisions qualifying for the playoffs, rather than simply the best eight teams from the conference qualifying; either way, the Crimson Hawks are safe at the moment.

IUP’s 6–5 conference record (8–5 overall) puts the team at 18 points (as three points are awarded per conference win), which is even with Seton Hill, who shares the same conference record as IUP but sits at 6–7 overall.

Slippery Rock (12–2, 11–1 PSAC) leads the West division with 33 points and has clinched a tournament berth. Edinboro (9–2–3, 9–0– 3 PSAC) sit three points behind The Rock and appear to be a lock for a postseason berth as well.

Just below the Crimson Hawks and Griffins are Mercyhurst (6–5–2, 5-5–1 PSAC) and Gannon (6–6–1, 5–6–1 PSAC), who are tied at 16 points apiece.

In the East, Bloomsburg has clinched a tournament berth with 33 points. Millersville, West Chester and East Stroudsburg are all even at 27 points and all seem like solid bets to qualify for the tournament, as the closest East teams to that trio, Kutztown and Shippensburg, sit at 15 points.

The Crimson Hawks’ next matchup is at home Saturday against Slippery Rock, the toughest matchup left on the regular season schedule for IUP. Past that, the Hawks will face Pitt-Johnstown (nine points) at home and Seton Hill and Mercyhurst on the road before returning home to close out the regular season against Clarion (seven points).

If IUP can take care of business and win three of these five matchups, a postseason berth should be attainable. The struggle then becomes whether or not the Hawks can advance past the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009.

26

October 25, 2019

Sports

Girardi returns to dugout, replaces Kapler as Phillies manager STEVEN LANGDON JR. Managing Editor S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

Welcome to the city of brotherly love, Joe Girardi.

The Phillies officially announced that Girardi will replace Gabe Kapler as manager Thursday. It became clear that he would be coaching somewhere after stepping down as USA Baseball manager.

Girardi signed a three-year contract with Philadelphia with a club option for a fourth, potentially making him a Phillie through 2023.

He became the favorite for the job earlier in the week when he completed his second interview Monday. He was also interviewed by the Mets and Cubs.

The 55-year-old last managed with the Yankees in 2017. He was released after 10 seasons and one World Series in 2009, coming against Philadelphia.

What does Girardi most notably bring to the Phillies?

Lots of playoff experience.

GAME ONE

(Facebook) 2009 World Series Champion manager Joe Girardi was hired by Philadelphia on Thursday.

He had six postseason appearances with the Yankees and has had a .554 winning percentage.

The Phillies were searching for a manager who could lead them to the playoffs, being absent from the postseason since 2011. They have also struggled in September the

past two seasons, going 20–36.

Girardi has a challenge in finding a new staff. The Phillies currently do not have a pitching or hitting coach.

The team also does not have much leeway with its salary. The biggest area it needs improvement

GAME TWO

Nationals lead 2–0

Game Three

5

Zack Greinke

4

S T A R T E R S

Anibal Sanchez

12 3

Filled Managerial Vacancies Brad Ausmus to Joe Maddon

Gabe Kapler to Joe Girardi

Joe Maddon to David Ross

Andy Green to Jayce Tingler

is in pitching.

The team had a 4.53 ERA last year. It did not have a consistent No. 2 starter, and the bullpen had injuries all year. Expect the team to make a strong push for a top class starter in free agency.

The biggest positive is the main

players of the team are locked up.

Of course, the Bryce Harper deal will keep him in Philadelphia another 12 years. Other than him, they have Aaron Nola, Scott Kingery and Andrew McCutchen for the next couple seasons or more.

One of the first moves Girardi should make is signing catcher JT Realmuto to an extension. He had the most productive season on the team.

Realmuto was the best catcher in the league this season. He had the best wins above replacement (WAR) for catchers and 23rd best in the league.

The Phillies traded the catcher of the future in Jorge Alfaro to get him. With Realmuto in the final year of his contract, they should sign him to a three-year extension.

As far as a rating for the Girardi signing, I would give it a nine out of 10.

Girardi is one of the most talented managers in the game and is exactly what the Phillies need.

The team is in a win now mentality. They needed an emotional leader, and they got one.

Sports

October 25, 2019

27

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October 25, 2019

Sports

Sports

October 25, 2019

29

Start, Sit & New Traditions SETH WOOLCOCK

Sponsorship Coordinator S.M.Woolcock@iup.edu @DFF_SethW

This article contains opinion.

Exactly one year ago to the day, in “Start, Sit & Seth Volume 7,” I discussed traditions.

By textbook definition, traditions are long-standing customs that are passed on.

In that column I wrote, “For me, with my life being full of flux and change since I was young, I didn’t have many traditions, and the ones I did have faded over the years.”

I go on to tell how the only long-standing tradition I have is that every year I watch “Halloweentown,” the late ‘90s/early 2000s Disney Channel movie series about a young witch navigating a fictional, other-dimensional world filled with magic and monsters.

Well, here we are a whole year later, and I don’t feel like that statement is accurate anymore.

Somehow, without even fully being aware of it myself, I’ve been making my own new traditions.

First, there’s college traditions.

I’m talking about after a long week’s work, playing “F*ck the Dealer” and getting $6 Bud Light pitchers at Culp’s after Midnight on a Saturday night.

Then waking up the next morning for breakfast at Crouse’s and a round of disc golf at the Co-Op Park – just to make it home before Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff.

And then next thing you know, it’s Monday, and you’re back at The Penn, a special place where extraordinarily talented people come together with camraderie and dedication to bring you the newspaper twice a week and so much more additional online content.

Then, there are those traditions you hope to keep after college is far in the rearview: “Start, Sit & Seth,” for example.

Every week, I dedicate to this column trying to bring you, my readers, a fresh, feel-good story about life and fantasy football, in addition to some serviceable start/

(Courtesy of Seth Woolcock) Carved pumpkins may never look quite the way you want them to, but the tradition is always great fun nevertheless.

sit advice.

Also, in an attempt to create some new traditions of this year, Katie and I attempted carving pumpkins this week.

However, us being us, the pumpkins didn’t turn out as we had hoped. Katie’s scene from “A Nightmare Before Christmas” turned into a sick-looking swirl, while my attempt at recreating “The In-Between” logo was saved by a last-ditch effort of turning it into a generic-looking football.

But even though the pumpkin carving didn’t go exactly as planned, we still had fun in the process.

In addition to learning that we have a long way to go before we’re on the same pumpkin-carving levels our dads were when we were growing up, we made some banging roasted pumpkin seeds.

Oh, and you bet there was the original “Halloweentown” playing

the whole time.

My main point here is simply this: Both in life and fantasy football, it’s OK to go back and change your opinions and thoughts about something after taking in new information and experiences.

Yes, Cincinnati Bengals’ running back Joe Mixon was a top-10 running back last season and was taken early in drafts this season expected to be the same thing.

However, despite the talent, due to poor game scripts, offensive line issues, etc., that’s not what Mixon is anymore in fantasy football.

And no, I’m sure you didn’t see the Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Courtland Sutton becoming a borderline WR1 (I know I didn’t) throughout the first seven weeks of the season. But, hey, here we are halfway through the season and that’s the reality.

Check out the season’s scoring leaders up to this point, and find

trends and stats that help you formulate new opinions on a team or player.

Again, I know that a lot has changed in the fantasy football landscape in eight short weeks. But I believe that’s a huge part of why I and millions of others play the game.

Just pause, reflect on the new information and/or experiences and make decisions from there.

And here we go.

Quarterback I’d Start This Week: Matthew Stafford (Detroit): Coming off a four-touchdown performance? Check. Losing his feature running back to IR? Check.

And facing a Giants team that allows more than 21 fantasy points to the opposing quarterbacks? You got it. Check.

All signals are a go to start Matthew Stafford, QB12 on the season with a bye. And if he can continue

to produce under head coach Matt Patricia, he could have weekly QB1 upside moving forward.

Quarterback I’d Sit This Week: Carson Wentz (Philadelphia): Although Wentz is coming off a season-worst 6.8 fantasy points performance against the Cowboys, it’s not the main factor as to why he finds himself on the sit list for the third time this season.

Since losing big-play WR DeSean Jackson following Week 1, Wentz’s completion percentage, yards and fantasy points have all dropped and failed to reach any of Week 1’s totals.

With D-Jax looking like he’ll miss his seventh straight game and the Bills allowing only one QB1 week to opposing quarterbacks playing at home, Wentz is a hard sit for me here in Week 8.

Continued on page 30.

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October 25, 2019

HOT TAKE JAKE

Sports

With weak AFC, Patriots get cakewalk to Super Bowl JAKE TAYLOR

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

Cue “Taps” because the New England Patriots just put the AFC to rest.

Boston Celtics great Kevin Garnett once said “anything is possible.” However, that was 11 years before the greatest secondary in football history was assembled.

Granted, New England’s defensive backfield is superb; the rest of the AFC is abysmal. There is no possibility of a victor arising in Foxborough other than the six-time defending Super Bowl champs.

I can hear the haters already screaming, “what about Mahomes!”

What about Mahomes? He didn’t beat them last year, and he certainly will not this year. Patrick Mahomes is out for the next few

(TNS) Will the Patriots hoist Lombardi No. 7 come February?

weeks, which puts the Chiefs behind the eight ball. They face off against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings the next two weeks which, despite a miracle, an automatic double L. An injured Mahomes will have to travel on the road likely without a

first-round bye only to meet the ultimate boss level in Gillette. If you think Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jacoby Brissette or Deshaun Watson is going to carve up that secondary, you’re sadly mistaken.

If the most efficient offense in modern football history got shut

out in the biggest game of the year last year, the AFC is over.

I am aware the Patriots have not faced any talent this season, but they have the last five seasons, which went to the Super Bowl four of those years. Coming off a 33–0 victory against the Jets on Monday Night Football, the Patriots didn’t sit back and celebrate. They did what they always do and made their team even better.

With the acquisition of dual-threat wideout Mohamad Sanu, New England’s offense just became stacked. Edelman, Sanu, Dorsett and the deepest running back roster in the league. Yeah, I didn’t even mention Tom freakin’ Brady.

By adding Sanu, the playbook has entered an “Odyssey”-esque dimension, considering Sanu is seven for eight, 233 yards and four TD’s in his NFL passing career. The running backs in New England are

just as good as their wide receivers when it comes to receptions.

Now, as all my readers know, I am anything but a Patriot fan. What I am a fan of is well-oiled organizations, and that is what New England has become. The Patriots’ defense has allowed only 1,562 yards and three offensive touchdowns. Regardless of the competition, the pure dominance displayed by the Pats is something sports fans rarely see nowadays.

The NFL is seemingly more competitive year after year, yet there is only one team that always wins. You can claim they cheated 15 years ago, but you cannot deny what they are doing now.

With Baltimore, Kansas City and Houston still to play in the regular season, Bill Belichick will acquire all the film he needs to make this January as easy as the last three have been for the Pats.

Chargers could have strong ground game Sunday Continued from page 29.

Running Back I’d Start This Week: Chargers Running Backs (Los Angeles): In a season that’s been complete opposites for both Austin Ekeler (RB3) and Melvin Gordon (RB66), they’re both starts for me here in Week 8.

Shockingly, the Bears have been pretty poor against opposing running backs, allowing on average a rushing touchdown and 7.5 receptions per game.

With the Chargers losing three straight and struggling on offense, I see them trying to get back on track by getting their backs going early and often, both through the air and on the ground.

Running Back I’d Sit This Week: Damien Williams (Kansas City): Say hello to Damien Williams, or in this case goodbye, to the player that has the most rushes this season without a 10-yard gain.

Williams, who’s scored more than nine fantasy points only once this season (Week 1), was even

(Facebook) Chargers running backs Austin Ekeler (left) and Melvin Gordon (right) are poised for a big performance against Chicago.

less inefficient in Week 7 (11 total touches for 6 yards) and now has Matt Moore most likely starting under center.

Yeah, no thanks.

Wide Receiver I’d Start This Week: Kenny Stills (Houston): Houston’s newly-appointed WR2, Kenny Stills, should capitalize on the op-

portunity on Sunday when the Texans get the Raiders at home.

In addition to allowing the second-most points to opposing wide receivers this season, they’re also allowing the second-most yards per completion to those receivers (15.85 YPC).

If he’s still available in any of your leagues, go grab him. As I don’t

think he’ll be out there much longer after owners realize the potential of this juicy matchup.

Wide Receiver I’d Sit This Week: Curtis Samuel (Carolina): Typically a weekly flex play, Samuel gets a downgrade here in Week 8 as he and current-starting quarterback Kyle Allen travel across the country

to lay a red-hot 49’ers defense.

Although Allen has yet to throw an interception this season, he’s been sacked 10 times and is prone to fumbles (six).

My guess is that Nick Bosa forces Allen to get rid of the ball quickly, potentially limiting Samuel, who has averaged 12.9 yards per reception this season.

Sports

October 25, 2019

31

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October 25, 2019

Sports

October 25, 2019

Sports

33

(TNS) The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers will be talked about very often this NBA season.

NBA season kicks off with stellar matchups coast to coast JEFF HART

Lead Sports Writer J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

It’s finally here, ladies, gentlemen and others.

After months of agonizing anticipation, NBA regular season basketball is back.

The 2019–20 NBA season has been one of the most highly anticipated seasons in recent history.

Due to the dissolution of the juggernaut Warriors, the league is on a level playing field for the first time in a decade.

With a myriad of blockbuster offseason signings and trades, fans everywhere have something to love. It only seemed fitting that the NBA season would open in Los Angeles.

This is the first time in the city’s history in which the Lakers and the Clippers are both in high contention for a championship. Aside from the years of lob city with Chris Paul,

Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan, this is the first time the Clippers have been an actual contender.

The air was electric in Staples Center, and all eyes were on Lebron and Anthony Davis to see how they would fair against the Paul George-less Clippers.

It seems LA may have a new king of the town in the Clippers after the season opener as they handled their business with the Lakers 112–102.

Anthony Davis played about as good to be expected after missing most of the season on the bench with the Pelicans last season. Davis put up a respectable 25 points along with 10 rebounds.

The biggest disappointment from Tuesday’s matchup was the lack-luster performance from “The King” himself, Lebron James. Many fans and analysts alike came into the season proclaiming Lebron was going to retake the throne after missing the playoffs last year.

Analysts like Stephen A. Smith ran to hyperbole.

“He is going to destroy the league the likes of which we have never seen,” Smith said.

It appears statements like these may not be so accurate as James appeared content on simply passing the ball to Anthony Davis and company.

Lebron finished the game with 18 points, eight assists and nine rebounds. James is in his 17th season, and it appeared Tuesday that perhaps age and attrition may be catching up with him. After going to the NBA finals for nine consecutive seasons, Lebron’s body may be paying the price.

After an entire off-season to prepare for this opening night matchup, many were expecting James to come out with renewed vigor and vitality and dominate. Like many times in his career, it seemed that Lebron shrank under the pressure.

With this first game being a rival-

ry game that would play a role in determining what team would rule LA, there was added pressure to this matchup.

As per usual, “The King” tried to change the narrative of the game in his post-game media interview.

“I disagree with how big of a test it was,” James said. “It was just the first game.”

It appears we should expect the same antics from Lebron as we do every year: wanting the credit when he succeeds and trying to not take responsibility for his failures.

Travelling to the East Coast, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics squared off on the court in their season opener. Both teams are considered heavy contenders this season as they have both made offseason moves that have re-vamped their squads.

With Philly’s addition of forward Al Horford and guard Josh Richardson, the 76ers appear to be one of the best defensive teams in the

league on paper.

After a tumultuous 2018–19 season, Boston decided to part ways with premier point guard Kyrie Irving. The Celtics soon filled Irving’s place with Kemba Walker, whose numbers are quite similar to Irving’s.

The 76ers had a solid handle on the game and balled out against the Celtics and took the game 107–93. It appears that the addition of Horford and Richardson really beefed up their defense as they were able to limit one of the most offensively talented teams in the league to fewer than 100 points.

These are only two of the many spectacular matchups that await fans this season. These were only two of the many matchups that are to come this season, but they are two matchups between squads that all could potentially be top contenders this season.

One thing is for sure: it’s good to be back.

34

October 25, 2019

Sports

No changes made to postseason ball, says Manfred JORGE CASTILLO Los Angeles Times TNS All regular season long, Major League Baseball faced questions about the baseballs used because they were flying farther than ever.

The evidence was there. More home runs were hit than ever before and studies illustrated details supporting claims that the balls were behaving differently. In June, MLB acknowledged the balls were different because a pill in the middle wasn’t perfectly centered. It became a storyline the league wanted to swat away.

Then, suddenly, the baseballs seemed to have changed, without explanation, once the calendar flipped to October.

Balls barreled this postseason seemingly aren’t traveling as far as they would have during the regular season. Sure home runs the previous six months became routine fly balls. Anecdotal evidence is prevalent, but balls hit with the same launch angle and exit velocity are not going as far as the regular sea-

(TNS) MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says no changes have been made to the postseason ball.

son. Observers have assumed the balls were changed.

On Wednesday, before Game 2 of the World Series, Rob Manfred maintained that the sample size is too small and unreliable. He noted cold weather suppresses a ball’s flight and the pitching is better in playoff games. He emphasized the balls are not different than the ones used during the regular season.

“I can tell you one thing for absolute certain, just like every other year, the balls that were used in this postseason were selected from lots that were used during the regular season,” Manfred said. “There was no difference in those baseballs.”

MLBPA director Tony Clark countered Manfred’s viewpoint. He said players have maintained the balls have “changed quite a bit.” He

said conversations with the league about the matter are “ongoing and will continue.” He said players want consistency.

“It should just be a baseball and it should be a baseball that they can expect to do what it’s always done,” Clark said. “So I’d like to get to a point ... as I’m sure players would, where they know what they’re picking up, they know how

it’s going to play. As much as it’s been a concern this year, we hope it’s not a concern moving forward and we get the consistency that we did in the past.”

All MLB baseballs are produced in Costa Rica at a Rawlings plant the league has controlled since buying the company in June 2018.

Clark said MLBPA officials are willing to visit the plant to ensure qualifications are met; he said MLBPA officials did that before MLB took ownership. But he emphasized a ball’s characteristics can change after manufacturing.

“The custodianship from the time it leaves to the time it arrives at a ballpark, to how long it sits, to where it’s stored, to what balls are used at what point in time, all of that is worthy of discussion,” Clark said.

Manfred said the league’s investigation into the baseballs will conclude after the World Series and before the end of the year. That should give the league ample time to rectify inconsistencies before next season – even if officials claim there aren’t any to rectify.

Maddon plans to mix smallball, analytics with Angels MIKE DIGIOVANNA Los Angeles Times TNS New Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon vowed Thursday to marry new-age analytics with old-school fundamentals in an effort to bring back the style of play that made the Angels one of baseball’s most dominant franchises from 2002–09.

“We’re gonna bunt this year, guys,” Maddon said at his introductory news conference in Angel Stadium, drawing applause from an audience that included current Angels players Albert Pujols, Shohei Ohtani and David Fletcher and former Angels Rod Carew, Garret Anderson, Adam Kennedy and Bobby Grich.

“I like courage, I like fearlessness, I like not being afraid of making mistakes ... with the proper guys. (We’re going) to put the hit-and-run sign on with the proper count. If a stolen base is there based on a pitcher’s time to the plate, then steal a bag. They should

(TNS) Joe Maddon will return to Los Angeles to manage the Angels in 2020.

go first to third (on singles). They shouldn’t miss a cut-off guy.”

The Angels won the 2002 World Series and 2004 and 2005 American League West titles while Maddon was the bench coach under Mike Scioscia, and they won three more division titles from 2007–2009 with

an offensive approach heavy on contact, situational hitting and aggressive baserunning.

Maddon, 65, spent his first 31 years (1975–2005) of professional baseball with the Angels in a variety of minor league and big league roles before leaving to manage the

Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006.

He embraced the information provided by an analytics-driven front office and combined it with his old-school sensibilities, a fusion that helped turn the low-budget Rays into contenders, reaching the 2008 World Series and winning two division titles.

That approach served Maddon well in Chicago, where he led the Cubs to four playoff berths and the 2016 World Series championship, and he plans to continue in Anaheim, where he signed a three-year, $12 million contract to replace Brad Ausmus, who was fired after one year at the helm.

“What’s going on in the game today ... it’s data vs. art – that’s what it comes down to for me,” Maddon said. “Art being the human heartbeat, data being numbers, the math, etc. I believe there’s a balance to be struck right there.

“You can use both these things to your advantage but you should never ever want to disassociate one or the other. To just be all analytically inclined or all heartbeat in-

clined, you’re going to lose. You’re not going to be the best version of yourself.”

While hitters set major league records for home runs and strikeouts again this season, Maddon hopes an emphasis on contact, baserunning and defense – and, of course, effective pitching – will produce a more exciting brand of baseball.

“In today’s game, everybody is working off the same sheet of music,” Maddon said. “I think there’s a reason why fans have been turned off a bit by our game, and that’s because the game looks the same regardless of where you go.

“I want us to reestablish our identity here. While we’re playing the analytical game, I want us also to play the Angels game. And for all these guys, who you are as a human being matters.”

Told later in the day that his comment about his affinity for the bunt had already created a stir on Twitter, Maddon said, “Oh really?

That’s awesome. I really enjoy that kind of reaction.”