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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2019

CULTURE | PAGE 12

VOL. 111 NO. 1

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NEWS

IUP students uncover human artifacts near Blairsville

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

Students prepare for upcoming school year

JESS TRUBY

Managing Editor J.L.Truby@iup.edu @jesstruby

This summer, students in the anthropology field school discovered artifacts to prove humans were present at the site 8,000 years ago.

Anthropology faculty members Ben Ford and Bill Chadwick supervised 17 students for six weeks while they dug, mapped and explored Newport Village on the border of Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

The anthropology department does field school every year, but this is the first year at the Newport Village site.

The students found pieces of stone debris and waste from humans.

The Army Corps of Engineers owns the land, which is leased to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Jamie Kouba (graduate, anthropology) was surprised to see the stone road, since the group was expecting to see soil changes.

They believe that the stone road was placed on top of the original road, meaning the road was used multiple times through history.

The site was well-covered because it was the route for iron ore, produce and travelers, since the main source of transportation was the river.

“As transportation shifted away from rivers,” anthropology professor Ben Ford said, “the importance of Newport faded and by circa 1840 there was no longer a town there.”

News

(James Neuhausel/The Penn) As classes draw near, IUP students are doing all they can to ease the stress of college.

ANNA MECHLING Staff Writer A.Mechling@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

(Facebook) IUP students found human artifacts in the Newport Village, just outside of Blairsville.

The group found artifacts including tools, pieces of stone broken from tools and rocks used to boil water before there was pottery.

The stone projectile can lead to the shape of the tool, which helps the students narrow down the specific time period which it was created.

The artifacts can also be dated through radiocarbon dating.

These discoveries indicate that Native Americans lived on the site before the European Americans.

“Our grade depended on us designing, planning, and executing our own excavation,” Kouba said.

“We used penetrometer readings to determine soil compaction levels in a trench that was dug across the road, but

it would be good to do further excavations to double-check our findings.”

A penetrometer is any device forced into the soil to measure resistance to vertical infiltration.

Kouba and her partner found redware, nails and prehistoric lithics.

The evidence suggests both roads were used between the 1780s and the 1840s.

Richard Michael, a 1976 anthropology and history graduate, donated $25,000 to the IUP Archaeological Services Support Fund, which can be used for several initiatives to support the archaeological work being done by students, according to an Aug. 13. IUP news release Michael, originally from Bells Landing, Clearfield County, lived for many years in Indiana and was the former vice president of the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce.

He now makes his home in Florida.

Ford expressed his gratitude toward Michael and was happy to have Michael come visit the site to see firsthand the work the students are doing.

August 26, 2019

As the new school year begins, students are eager to get back into the swing of things after three months off.

Coming back from internships and summer jobs, many students’ main focuses fall under the financial category since a new semester brings a whole new budget — books, groceries, rent, a social life, etc.

Mackenzie Morgan (junior, nursing) spent her summer working to save up for textbooks and general semester spending.

For students with heavy course loads, sports practices, band rehearsals, club meetings or any extracurricular activities, summer and winter breaks might be the only free time they have to earn money or take away the extra stress of fitting in a part-time job during the semester.

But once school rolls back around, many people are ready to get back in the saddle.

Classes mean homework, exams and inevitably stress, so self-care practices have been big in new semester preparations.

“Mentally, I am trying to organize and plan out studying to make me feel less stressed, but also leave time to pamper myself,” Morgan said. “I’m eager to see my friends and start the new year.”

New students are eager to take on the college student role

and are mentally preparing for their coursework and studying.

“I will study and manage my time wisely so I can get my schoolwork done and also get involved with school,” Pee Yar (freshman, pre-physician assistant) said.

For students looking to get involved in their majors or in outside activities, the university is holding IUP Day Sept. 6 from 3-6 p.m. in the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

Student leaders from clubs, club sports, professional student organizations and Greek life will attend to discuss their group with any student interested in joining.

Students can also find groups to join on Crimson Connect, which allows users to read through what the group is all about and connect with officers about joining.

Some students are taking a further step, looking for mentors to help them along the way, whether an adviser, a co-worker, a fellow student or a friend.

“I will study hard and look for a mentor to guide me throughout the year,” Kyanna Price (freshman, marketing) said. “I will meditate to keep focus and manage my time wisely.”

Professors strongly encourage students to reach out if they’re having trouble with the course material.

Each professor has office hours to specifically allow for open time for students to ask questions and get help if they need it.

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August 26, 2019

News

Police Blotter THEFT

•An unknown person stole 24 hunting traps from a closed garage in the 300 block of Blairton Avenue in the week before Aug. 21, according to borough police. Anyone with information regarding the burglary should contact the Indiana Borough Police at (724)349-2121.

• An unknown person stole a red TREK Marlin 5 bicycle from the 400 block of S. Sixth Street between 7 and 8 p.m. Aug. 11, according to borough police. Anyone with information is asked to contact borough police.

• An unknown female with a short haircut, black sandals, a black shirt and black shorts with a multicolored skirt on top stole a wallet from the Philadelphia Street Sheetz around 4 p.m. Aug. 9. The wallet was left on a shelf near a lottery machine by another patron and picked up by the described suspect, according to borough police. Anyone with information is asked to contact borough police.

• Kimberly Andrews, 20, of Pittsburgh was charged with theft and criminal mischief following a theft report from a business in the 00 block of N. Fifth Street. An employee broke into a cash register between 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. July 15. A surveillance camera recorded the incident, according to borough police.

• Borough police responded to a call about suspicious activity on Aug. 1 in the 300 block of N. Third Street. The community is encouraged to report any suspicious activity, and anyone with information is asked to contact borough police.

Alcohol Violations

• Shaylynn Lane, 22, of Marion Center was cited for public drunkenness after being found lying on the ground of the 00 block of Seventh Street’s parking lot at 2:26 a.m. Aug. 10. Citizens Ambulance Service assisted at the scene, according to borough police.

Drug Violations

• Tonia Sue Yeager, 47, and Kathryn Mary Booth, 54, both from Indiana were found at the scene of a drug investigation at 10:49 a.m. Aug. 16 in the 400 block of Philadelphia Street. The police filed charges of possession of drug paraphernalia against Booth and Yeager.

Miscellaneous Violations

• An unknown person scattered food waste on a private front porch in the 1400 block of Water Street between 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21, according to borough police. Anyone with information is asked to contact borough police.

• An unknown person used spray paint and stencils in the Indiana Wesleyan Methodist Church’s parking lot, located in the 00 block of S. 12th Street between Aug. 11 and Aug. 14, according to borough police. Anyone with information is asked to contact borough police.

• Charles Barr Jr., 53, of Indiana made unwanted physical contact with a known victim in the 400 block of S. 13th Street at 11 p.m.

Aug. 5. A harassment citation has been filed through the magistrate’s office, according to borough police.

(Pixabay) Students are more likely to overspend at college than anywhere else.

Thrifty Spending: Tips on how to maintain your budget during college EMILY LOOSE

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

This article contains opinion.

Money is a common struggle among college students.

Because of all the payments that need made, it seems that no one can hold on to money for long.

When those students are just starting their university experience, they have the added difficulty of being on their own for the first time.

Even with very little money, budgeting can be easy with the right tools, even for those who do not know their campus and city very well yet.

Food is a necessity, and while freshmen tend to have meal plans, it’s normal to get food off campus.

For groceries, Dollar Tree has many cheap items that are perfectly portioned for people buying for just themselves.

The store even has frozen foods.

Be on the lookout for restau-

rants that have student discounts.

Some places, such as Valley Dairy and Eat’n Park, offer discounts when shown an I-Card.

Those places are the best option for those times that you want to treat yourself.

Of course, there’s always a meal plan to fall back on.

Have extra swipes at the end of the week? Instead of using all of your Flex on coffee at Starbucks, Einstein Bros.’ coffee can be purchased with meal swipes.

Aside from food, there are other student necessities.

Again, Dollar Tree has many options for daily life, including shampoo and toothpaste.

In need of business formal clothing for an interview? Many professors at IUP recommend checking out Goodwill for suit jackets and dresses. It saves a lot of money in the long run.

Goodwill is already a good place to get clothing on a budget, but they also have a discount for students on Wednesdays, and everything is 50 percent off on the last Saturday of every month.

Even on a budget, students can

enjoy some entertainment. The movie theater in the Indiana Mall has “$5 Monday.”

For that price, students get to see the movie of their choice and receive a small bag of popcorn.

The biggest expense while in school is textbooks.

Before buying at full price, students should check online on Amazon or Chegg for cheaper options or see if other students are selling those books.

There are always students trying to sell their old textbooks, but make sure it’s the edition that you need. Sometimes professors will let you have a previous edition of the book, but you should always ask beforehand.

Of course, the best thing to any student is the word “free.”

IUP has many events during the year that are free and they give away T-shirts or pizza.

Going to these events will not only be fun, but can feed you, as well.

There are plenty of tricks and tips to help students on a budget, as well as many more to be discovered.

News

August 26, 2019

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August 26, 2019

News

Candidate Analysis: A preview of who may headline 2020 presidential race

(Flickr) President Donald Trump (left) looks to serve a second term in office, while Democratic candidates, like Bernie Sanders (right), look to defeat Trump.

ELLIOT HICKS

Sports Editor e.hicks@iup.edu @ehicks39

To some, it may feel like President Donald Trump was elected just yesterday, but the next U.S. presidential election is just 15 months away.

There are a great deal of contenders who want to see change, from more than 20 candidates for the Democratic Party’s nomination to outliers in Trump’s own Republican Party.

No incumbent president has lost his own party’s nomination since Chester Arthur in 1884, and Trump is not expected to be the next to do so.

The only current notable challenger is Bill Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts and

the Libertarian nominee for vice president in 2016, campaigning with Gary Johnson.

The current poll numbers show Trump ahead of Weld by 60 to 80 points, and the Republicans do not currently have any debates scheduled to challenge Trump on a national scale.

The opposite is true in the Democratic Party, where a pair of two-night debates have already been held, the first taking place June 26 and 27 in Miami and the second July 30 and 31 in Detroit.

Each of those nights featured 10 candidates on stage at once.

Leading the polls at the moment is former Vice President Joe Biden, who served with Barack Obama from 2008-2016.

Biden has been the frontrunner since he announced his candidacy, but he is far from the only

viable candidate.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are generally considered to be the closest challengers to Biden, with both candidates running on a progressive agenda which some have compared to “democratic socialism,” a label which Sanders, who has had more individual donors than any other candidate, has had no issue with.

Sanders is the most popular Democratic candidate among college students, with Warren as a close second.

Those three are far from the only candidates who have a chance at the nomination.

Kamala Harris, a California senator who formerly served as the attorney general in the Golden State, has also been grouped in the upper echelon of candidates.

Beto O’Rourke, the former Texas congressman who nearly defeated Ted Cruz in the 2018 senate race, has been focused on recently following the recent mass shooting in his hometown of El Paso.

Andrew Yang, a former businessman running on the promise of a “universal basic income,” giving each American older than 18 a dividend of $1,000 a month, has a popular following known as the “Yang Gang.”

Each of the candidates mentioned have qualified for

the third debate, which will take place September 12 and 13 in Houston.

Other candidates who will continue to have a place on the debate stage, earning a place on the national radar, include former mayors Pete Buttigieg (South Bend, Ind.) and Cory Booker (Newark, N.J.) and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Billionaire impeachment advocate Tom Steyer has spent more than $10 million on nationwide advertising and is expected to also make the cut after not participating in any debates thus far, while former secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro is also on the cusp of continuing to participate in the debates That’s a lot of candidates, right?

We still haven’t even mentioned other high-profile politicians like New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, Hawaii congresswoman and veteran Tulsi Gabbard or eccentric author and “spiritual adviser” Marianne Williamson.

There are currently 816 people who have registered with the Federal Election Commission to run for president, with other notable names such as stand-up comedian Ben Gleib and motivational speaker Ken Nwadike Jr., who visited IUP in February 2018.

Fifteen months from now is a long way away, but don’t be surprised to see that time fly by and the field of candidates, serious or otherwise, narrow down very quickly.

August 26, 2019

News

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Indiana’s new ax-throwing range offers recreational and league play ABE ESHELMAN

Staff Writer A.Eshelman@iup.edu @DukeOfKalos

The AXperience is a sports and entertainment complex that allows individuals to participate in ax throwing opened in early August.

Jon Finzen, the owner of the complex, was interested in bringing a new form of entertainment to the Indiana area, said its a way for participants to learn new skills while having fun.

Those who enjoy the ax throwing may find themselves interested in joining a league, which can be done through The Axperience’s membership in the World Axe Throwing League (WATL).

The AXperience has staff supporting and guiding throwers during their experience.

The range even allows its participants to bring their own food and drink.

To the surprise of many, alcoholic beverages are even allowed for ax throwers age 21 and older.

Finzen sees the activity as an

(Facebook) The AXperience, which opened in August, allows both recreational play (right) and league play. Competitors pose outside The AXperience on Wayne Avenue (left).

alternative to, or a fun pregame activity for, barhopping and having a night out with friends.

Finzen even recommends hosting parties there and sees ax throwing as part of the bar

experience.

The complex is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays.

Monday is available by appointment only. On Tuesday and Wednesday, it is $15 per person

per game.

Thursday through Sunday, it charges $20 per person per game.

Prices vary for Monday appointments and league-based long-term play.

Finzen wants all potential throwers to know that “closed-

toed shoes are required, but otherwise wear whatever makes

you happy.”

Finzen hopes that all who participate leave with a sense of community as a result of such an exciting shared experience.

You could visit The AXperience at 1228 Wayne Ave.

HEATHER BAIR

Lead Culture Writer H.Bair@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Brian Swatt (1997 - 2019) Brian Swatt (junior) passed away June 7 in a car accident in Armstrong County.

Swatt, formerly from Mayfield, Pa., was a political science major at IUP. He was president of the Student Government Association, a member of College Republicans and a member of the fraternity Kappa Sigma. While at school, he worked at Tom’s Pizza on South Seventh St. He was also a staffer for state senator Joe Pittman.

Friends and family remember him as having an outgoing personality, bright smile and

(Facebook)

(Facebook) Brian Swatt (left) and Ciara Eiriz (right, end) passed away this summer. Their legacies will live on through their friends and family.

exceptional leadership skills.

Ciara Eiriz (1999-2019) 20-year-old Ciara Eiriz (senior) passed away July 30 in a jet-ski accident in South Carolina.

Eiriz, from South Hills of Pittsburgh, was majoring in fashion merchandising at IUP. She was also a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.

She was known for her smile, laugh and ability to be every-

one’s friend.

IUP offers grief counseling due to the loss of a loved one.

To make an appointment, you can call the counseling center, located on the ground floor of Suites on Maple East, at

724-357-2621. The walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

In case of emergencies, contact the Indiana County Crisis Hotline. It is open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-877-333-2470.

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August 26, 2019

News

August 26, 2019

News

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Students hungry for answers as Folger closes ANNA MECHLING Staff Writer A.Mechling@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

KATIE MEST

Editor-In-Chief K.A.Mest@iup.edu @katiemest

A new school year always brings new changes to campus buildings, and this year is no different.

Folger Dining Hall will be closed for the 2019-20 year and turned into a student commons area, according to an Aug. 8 IUP news release.

North Dining Hall, the $17 million dining establishment that opened in August 2017, is expanding its hours from last year and will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Folger will be used for additional student study spaces and areas for student groups to congregate.

“This transition provides an enhanced residential dining program at North Dining while

(The Penn archives) Folger Dining Hall will be closed this semester and used as study spaces for students.

creating new student spaces,” Thomas Segar, vice president for student affairs, said in the Aug. 8 news release. “The reallocation of the Folger Hall space into a student commons reflects our commitment to enhancing the spirit of community and offering new opportunities for students to learn, engage and build community, which all contribute to student success.”

Taking Folger out of the equation for on-campus dining options limits students’ convenient food choices.

Folger was one of two dining

halls where students could pay one meal swipe ($5.43) and eat as much buffet-styled food as they wanted. Now, North will be the only dining hall open for students across campus.

“I think it puts students at a disadvantage for dining options costing only one meal swipe,” Sara Keller (junior, criminology) said. “However, with North extending its hours, hopefully students will still be fine.”

Some students aren’t too upset about the dining hall’s closing but acknowledge distance may be a negative factor

for some of the students who lived closer to Folger.

“I am not too upset because I never really went to Folger due to the lack of variety,” Dani Wade (senior, international business) said, “but I think it’s inconvenient for students, especially the ones farther away from North.”

While students in Northern and Wallwork are at a huge advantage in this arrangement, students in farther residence halls like Stephenson don’t have that same dining option.

“I feel as if our options are extremely limited now,” Anita Morrison (senior, early childhood/special education) said.

“Even though Folger wasn’t open for dinner last year during the week, it was still an option for lunch and breakfast.

“Now, if I want food, I’ll have to go all the way to North, and that can be inconvenient sometimes. It doesn’t seem fair to those of us who pay for a meal plan on campus. If they are shutting down places, they should also lower the cost we

are paying for food.”

University officials, on the other hand, seem positive that North can accommodate for the loss of Folger as a dining hall.

“North Dining is centrally located and is definitely a centerpiece for the campus,” Sondra Dennison, executive director of the Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining, said in the Aug. 8 news release.

“It has been extremely popular with students and employees, especially with our commuter students. Student comments and student surveys had consistent requests for increased hours at North Dining, and we are very happy to be able to meet these requests starting in the fall.

“We feel confident we will be able to meet the needs and wants of our diners.”

North will include the True Balance allergen station that Folger had, so customers with food allergies and gluten intolerances still have options. And stations in food courts around campus will be updated with on-trend foods and grab-and-go options.

Surviving Syllabus Week: Editor shares six tips for success STEVEN LANGDON JR. Managing Editor S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Syllabus week embodies everything most students do not want to do, whether it is waking up to go to class or playing games to learn about your classmates.

Despite that, it is the easiest week of the school year.

Here is how to get through syllabus week.

1. Read the syllabus prior to class.

If your professor sent the syllabus before the semester begins, it is best to read it before walking into the classroom.

It contains everything that you should expect in the coming weeks.

Reading the syllabus ahead of time also allows you to relax and listen to the nitty-gritty.

The professor always says something that is not included in

the syllabus.

2. Do not throw your syllabi away.

Never, ever throw the syllabus away during the semester.

Professors will tell you that most of your questions are answered in the syllabus.

There are stories every year about students who missed class, emailed the professor asking what happened that day, and never received a response.

Why? The student did not read the syllabus, which has a calendar saying what happened that day.

3. Keep your syllabi handy and organized.

Even if you don’t throw them out, there is a possibility that you could lose them.

The moment you get back to your room, put it somewhere you will remember.

The easiest way to keep track of where they are is to keep them in a folder.

it is one of the most frequently visited spots in a college student’s day.

4. Plan your schedule.

Syllabi are most helpful for this purpose.

Most have a schedule on them; knowing important dates ahead of time will help make the semester less stressful.

The syllabus lets you know when tests and due dates are, which will help when filling out your calendar.

Schedule when you can study and do homework assignments.

5. Do homework early.

Staples sells them for only 15 cents, which will make your wallet happy.

If folders are not helpful, put your syllabi on the refrigerator, as

Homework can pile up quickly during the semester.

Some of your assignments can be done prior to their due dates.

English classes are big on weekly writing assignments. They could easily be done during the weekend. English professors also don’t appreciate procrastination.

Do not wait to start thinking about research topics, and do the research as soon as possible.

Finish assignments early so the end of the semester can be used for studying and preparing for finals.

6. Wait to buy textbooks.

The biggest mistake students make is buying every textbook listed. Some classes have multiple textbooks as well.

Unless the professor has said specifically that the book will be used, do not waste money on a $100 book.

The best thing is to wait for the financial aid to come in and wait to see what textbooks will and will not be used.

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August 26, 2019

News

OPINION

The Penn’s school year promises to our readers

(The Penn archives) Incoming freshman and returning students moved into the dorm buildings over the weekend.

Vice President of Student Affairs welcomes students into new semester Dear IUP Students.

Welcome to a new year at IUP! Like many of you, I am also new to IUP, and I am excited to begin my first fall semester at an institution that values hard work and personal transformation.

You belong here, and I encourage you to participate in all of the diverse opportunities IUP has to offer. This is a place where you can grow, explore, learn, and connect with others who are on a similar journey. At IUP, you can find rich out-of-class experiences that will complement your in-class experiences.

Your success at IUP matters, and we are committed to supporting you along your journey.

Please consider taking the following steps that will help you successfully progress towards achieving your educational goals.

Show up!

Go to class every single day.

Participate in a program sponsored by MCSLE – The Center for Multicultural Student Leadership and Engagement. Attend

Opinion

a STATIC event like a concert or comedy show. Study by yourself or with your friends in Folger, our newest student-focused space on campus. Check out IUP Day on Friday, Sept. 6!

Stay Engaged!

Join a club or organization.

Conduct research with a faculty member. Go on a trip sponsored

by Multicultural Affairs. Start an intramural team or participate on one. Attend a Student Government Association meeting. Visit Crimson Connect to learn about all of the wonderful opportunities for student engagement that exist at IUP. Socialize! Meet new friends.

Find your old friends and take the time to enjoy a meal together at the Crimson Café.

Enjoy some homemade gelato in North Dining Hall. Attend an RA program with a group of friends.

Cheer for the Crimson Hawks at the first home football game on Sept. 7. Root for our field hockey and volleyball teams with your roommates. Get connected and stay connected.

Seek Help!

Visit your professor during office hours to ask that question you didn’t want to ask in class. Go to the Counseling Center and see one of our counselors if you’re really struggling with something. Schedule an appointment with Health Services if you feel like you’re coming down with something you can’t shake.

Talk to your RA if you’re trying to figure out how to find your way around IUP. Visit the Financial Aid Office or the Bursar’s Office with your questions about paying for school. Email iup-hawks@iup.edu if you have a question and just don’t know who to ask.

Every faculty, staff, administrator, and student leader want to see you succeed. Let us help you. Ask early and ask often.

Follow these tips and not only will you earn your degree, you will receive an outstanding educational experience that will last a lifetime.

Best wishes and much success, Dr. Tom Segar Vice President for Student Affairs

August 26, 2019

(The Penn archives) The Penn office is located on the second floor of the Hadley Union Building (HUB).

Here at The Penn, we know your view of the media might have been skewed in the past few years. As editor-in-chief, I wanted to make some promises to you, the readers, about the way we handle the news.

First and foremost, we are a student publication. We want to be a voice for students, whether it’s sharing their achievements or informing them of news that directly affects them during their time at IUP. But we are also students ourselves. We are constantly learning and coming up with ideas to better The Penn and share the news with you. And part of this learning curve is making mistakes.

We pride ourselves on accuracy and relevancy, and we don’t take mistakes lightly. Quick turnaround time on stories might cause oversight on a small detail. Sometimes misspellings make their ways into headlines.

Each mistake we’ve made in the past – and we have made them – has taught us new lessons.

We have four or five staff members check over each page before we publish it because we want to ensure to the best of our ability that we give you accurate information in every single story.

Even during busy times like finals and move-in, our staff is in the office making sure the paper

gets out on time. When we signed up for The Penn, we were making a commitment to you and the legacy of the paper to do good by the community and write our stories well. So every time we come in to work on the paper, we’re giving 100 percent of our efforts to make it great.

Last year was the first time The Penn went all-digital, moving on from our print copy. As with all change, the transition was not easy.

We added podcasts, used social media more to connect with and listen to students and community members, brought on new team members to help carry The Penn into the digital age and much more.

This year, we will continue the work we started the year prior.

We want to be involved in conversations happening on campus. We want to hear what students are concerned about or what they’re praising. We want to proudly represent the IUP student body with the work we put out on our website.

Student organizations, professors and community groups are more than welcome to reach out to us with information regarding the work they’re doing.

We look forward to sharing your news this school year.

- Katie Mest, Editor-in-Chief

11

Culture

Culture Editor: Megan Donny – M.J.Donny@iup.edu Lead Culture Writer: Heather Bair – H.Bair@iup.edu

(Facebook) “Stranger Things” was one of students’ favorite shows this summer.

‘Stranger Things’ tops students’ summer watch lists ABE ESHELMAN

(Facebook) “Goodbyes” (top left), “Truth Hurts” (top right), “bad guy” (bottom left) and “Senorita” (bottom right) topped this summer’s music charts.

Summer songs that will trend into fall MEGAN DONNY Culture Editor M.Donny@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

Summer 2019 has been full of hot hit songs and refreshing new beats from both well-known and emerging artists.

Musicians like Post Malone, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Bazzi and Shawn Mendes have topped the charts all summer long with their catchy singles. Other artists like Chance the Rapper and Miley Cyrus have chosen to release full albums or EPs. While some of these songs are still rising up the charts, others will most likely fall out of popularity as soon as the summer season ends.

“Bad guy”- Billie Eilish Although this song was released before summer began, it has been played repeatedly on every hit radio station throughout the summer.

Eilish re-released the song July 9, this time featuring Justin Bieber.

After the second release, both the

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original version and the new one became even more popular.

“Senorita”- Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello This song gives off the exact vibe everyone wants to feel during the summertime. It has a tropical island feel that makes you want to lay on your deck with a tequila sunrise and pretend you’re on vacation. It’s not surprising that this song has been topping the charts since it was released June 21.

“Goodbyes” - Post Malone (feat.

Young Thug) Post Malone’s first release since his song “Sunflower” in 2018 has proven to quickly become a fan favorite. Even though it isn’t a happy, upbeat tune like most summer hits, the message in the song resonates with a lot of listeners.

“Truth Hurts” - Lizzo Lizzo’s music has exploded this year, and this song has become

extremely popular over the summer. While it’s unknown if the song’s success will travel into the fall season, it definitely made a splash during the hot weather.

“Paradise” - Bazzi Like “Senorita,” it’s no surprise that this song has been streamed so much this summer. The song is all about enjoying life and feeling alive. The beat is very easy to move to and would be perfect to listen to while relaxing on the beach.

“Hot Girl Summer” - Megan the Stallion (feat. Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla $ign) Despite the title, this song will most likely trend all the way into the fall season. Even though this song was released Aug. 9, this song has already become one of the most-listened-to tunes this summer.The song has spurred many Instagram captions and memes. It wouldn’t be surprising if it was played at many parties this fall.

August 26, 2019

Staff Writer A.Eshelman@iup.edu @DukeOfKalos

This article contains opinion.

Summer vacation is a time of rest from students’ busy schedules, and there are many ways to unwind and enjoy the summer.

In recent years, many students have used the summer as a time to relax and catch up on their favorite shows or shows they have been curious about but have “never had the time to check it out,” and they end up marathon-watching entire series with the extra time they have.

One student who spent part of her summer in front of a screen was senior Allyson Donnelly (nursing).

When Donnelly wasn’t working at her summer job, she would make time to open Netflix, Hulu or even YouTube and catch up on her favorite shows. Donnelly says she enjoys marathon-watching during the summer because, “usually, I am really busy with school, so I don’t always get a chance to watch the shows I am interested in until breaks and holidays.”

She said she enjoys diving into shows for hours at a time, in part because it acts as a distraction and a way to relax after a long day. She also often watches shows with her family, and Donnelly says that it

is “a good way for me to interact with my family and spend time with them, so I do enjoy that aspect of binge-watching.” She says her family even had a sleepover party where they stayed up and watched the old seasons before watching the newly released season of “Stranger Things.”

The shows she watched this summer were “Game of Thrones,” which she said was “pretty good for the first few seasons but had a lame ending;” “Mindhunter,” which she described as suspenseful and engaging; “Dexter,” the classic thriller with a sympathetic “hero;” “Castle Rock,” which she thought was a bit confusing and described as “dumb” at times; “Anne with an E,” which she said she adores as a retelling of the nostalgic series of novels, “Anne of Green Gables;” and her favorite show, the Netflix hit “Stranger Things.”

Donnelly loves “Stranger Things” and has made a major event out of watching new seasons with her family. She said she has rewatched all available episodes at least four times in the last year.

She also said she enjoys watching her favorite shows by herself or with others, but she prefers to watch with friends and family because it acts as a “bonding experience,” and she likes “sharing shows with people and just hanging out.”

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August 26, 2019

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Summer’s biggest movie successes and failures JAKE SLEBODNICK

News Editor J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu @slebby24

This article contains opinion.

The film industry played a very important role to many fans this summer… See what I did there?

Since the spring semester ended, various films released nationwide and received lots of attention from viewers and critics. Some of this was for the good, while the rest wasn’t as optimistic.

We witnessed movies that proved viewers right and ones that swerved audiences. Let’s take a look at some of the hit movies from the summer, as well as some that left fans wanting their money back.

Success: “Pokemon Detective Pikachu” I’ll admit, I’m not a huge fan of Pokemon, but this movie had the power to draw me in and keep me interested throughout the entire film.

The plot is as follows: a young trainer (Justice Smith) has the ability to hear Pikachu’s real voice and uses this to his advantage in his quest of uncovering the truth about his father’s disappearance.

Released just two days prior to the end of the 2018-2019 school year, this film ran at 1 hour and 40 minutes and pulled in a substantial box office total of more than $430 million worldwide. The starting budget for this film was $150 million, so it brought in about $280 million in profit.

This film also featured Ryan Reynolds voicing Detective Pikachu, who used his uncanny wit to reel in viewers, as well as provide comedic relief.

“Pokemon: Detective Pikachu” got a 68 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Flop: “The Hustle” Unfortunately, the humorous personalities of Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson couldn’t live up to the hype in this essential remake of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (1988).

Opening weekend sales just eclipsed $13 million nationwide, and finished with $93 million worldwide. Granted, this production started with only $24 million, but failing to surpass $100 million in the box office with two premier

(Facebook) “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum”(left) and “Toy Story 4” (right) finish the summer as succeses in the box office.

actors as the main characters spells major flop for this film.

The movie was rated 5.4 out of 10 on IMDb, as well as 14 percent rotten on Rotten Tomatoes.

What could have been a comedic hit turned into a surprising failure.

Success: “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum” Keanu Reeves in a movie is like adding soul food seasoning to meat: it’s what gives the dish that extra kick when you bite into it.

Back for another installment in the John Wick series, “Parabellum” started with a $75 million budget and nearly exceeded that in the opening weekend, bringing in $60 million. As of now, the movie brought in more than $320 million worldwide, setting a new record for the film industry.

According to Forbes, the record it broke was “The Biggest non-Hunger Games/Twilight Saga Lionsgate and/or Summit flick ever” and stands behind only “La La Land” and the “Now You See Me” franchise for total gross profit.

With the monetary statistics, it should come as no surprise that this film was a major success for the summer. Now we wait and see if “John Wick 4” can continue the success for the franchise.

genic freezing tube — at the atrocities that were the “Aladdin” and “Lion King” remakes this summer.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the concept of using modern technological advancements as well as real people portraying our favorite animated characters to remake classic films, but these films just did not hit home for older audiences and portrayed an artificial facade to younger audiences since they won’t get to experience what we did when we were young.

A common criticism for “Lion King” was, “nothing’s different, other than watching Mufasa die in live-action rather than animation.”

“Aladdin” had many fallacies that really stood out to viewers.

New songs were added, the run-time went from 90 minutes to two hours, and they relied on the pre-written script as opposed to Robin Williams’ improv in the original.

The casting wasn’t bad. However, actors portrayed the characters as close to the original as possible.

Will Smith paid close attention to how Robin Williams played the Genie and made sure he didn’t try to reinvent the character.

This should be a lesson for Disney: come up with new content and stop living in the past.

Success: “Rocketman” Flop: Every Disney live-action remake Walt Disney is probably turning in his grave — or rather his cryo-

Capitalizing on the demand of musical biopics after the success of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” director Dexter Fletcher brought the roller

coaster life of music legend Elton John to theaters in “Rocketman.”

Taron Eagerton starred as Elton John and, much like Rami Malek with Freddie Mercury, played his role perfectly. The best part of Eagerton’s performance wasn’t the ability to sound exactly like Elton John, but the effectiveness of his acting, which debunked many false preconceptions about his rise to fame.

Don’t let ratings fool you, as IMDb gave this film a 7.5/10 rating, but surpassing $185.5 million is a massive accomplishment for a biopic when perfection is of high demand.

Success: “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” This action-packed film “rocked” as Dwayne Johnson (Hobbs) and Jason Statham (Shaw) fused to continue the legacy of the “Fast & Furious” franchise.

Released Aug. 2, this movie raked more than $60 million in just the first weekend in theaters and surpassed $422 million worldwide as of August (via Box Office Mojo).

Additionally, this was the mainstream film debut of WWE superstar Roman Reigns, who played Hobbs’ muscular and tattooed brother, Mateo.

For what seemed like a very overrated and forced continuation of this legendary saga, “Hobbs & Shaw” broke expectations, leaving another positive mark on the “Fast & Furious” franchise.

Success: “Toy Story 4” This film is the definition of saving the best for last.

In a continuation of our childhoods, “Toy Story 4” sees the gang of Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the crew embark on a road trip with their new owner, Bonnie.

Before the road trip they meet Forky, a plastic fork who was created into a makeshift toy at Bonnie’s daycare. His main focus: being used as a utensil and getting thrown away after.

Woody and the gang seek to show Forky that Bonnie created him for a reason and that he needs to stay with her in order to keep her happy. In the midst of this, Woody and Forky get left behind and must find their ways back to Bonnie before she notices.

While traveling back to the family, Woody and Forky face adversity, but they are helped along the way by Woody’s long-lost friend, Bo Peep, who underwent a personality shake-up.

With her help, they overcome the villains and make it back to Bonnie.

This film brought in $990 million total and still holds high demand from fans to either see it again or introduce others to the franchise.

What many feared would kill this franchise made it stronger than ever.

These films brought excitement to the summer and gave fans a great alternative to escape the unbelievable heat.

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Writer Tips: The do’s and don’ts of grocery shopping for your apartment HEATHER BAIR

Lead Culture Writer H.Bair@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

(The Penn archives) The Hadley Union Building (HUB) accepts both Flex and meal swipes.

How to get the most out of your meal plan MEGAN DONNY Culture Editor M.Donny@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

If you’ve had a meal plan before, you know the stress of your meal swipes and Flex going to waste because the semester ends before you’ve had a chance to use them. There are ways to avoid this problem and save the money you spent on your meal plan.

A meticulous, yet simple way to keep track of how many meal swipes you are using is to plan out each week’s meals beforehand. If you know how many swipes you get each week, just plan which days you will go to the dining hall or use your swipes at the Hadley Union Building (HUB) cafeteria. Using this method and following your meal schedule will guarantee that no swipes go to waste.

It can be easy to fall into the habit of buying coffee every morning. To ensure that you do not use up your Flex too quickly on addicting places like Starbucks or Java City, you can also limit yourself to a certain amount of Flex that you spend each week.

To do this, just divide the amount of flex you receive from your meal plan by the number of weeks in the semester.

Many students tend to choose using their Flex or swipes at the HUB instead of at the dining halls.

This causes meal swipes to be spent faster since most food at the HUB is either two swipes or

Flex, whereas at the dining hall, it’s only one swipe for all the food you can eat. The only issue with the dining halls is that sometimes there is not enough time between classes for a sit-down meal.

It can be hard for students who have meal plans and live off-campus to use up all their meal swipes and flex. Plan out ahead of time which meals you eat at home and which you eat using your swipes and Flex is the easiest way to make sure you aren’t losing any money.

It’s also a good idea to have a limited amount of grocery money set aside and to not overspend at the grocery store. It’s easy to forget about your meal swipes when you have a fridge full of groceries right at home.

Students also tend to eat at off-campus establishments like McDonald’s, Sheetz and Taco Bell instead of on campus where they can use their swipes. If students limit the amount they spend on food off-campus and try to use more of their meal swipes on campus, they can save money and not have to worry about quickly using up all their swipes at the end of the semester.

If you do end up with lots of leftover swipes or flex at the end of the year and don’t want them to go to waste, there are a few easy ways to use them. For meal swipes, you can use them to buy whole pizzas at Crimson Cafe or bagels at Einstein Bros. at the HUB. If you have extra Flex, you can use it at the Provisions on Demand (POD) stores. They sell large bags of chips and cases of soda and coffee you can buy with Flex and bring home with you.

With the start of the new school year comes the annual back-toschool shopping. For college students, this also includes grocery shopping.

Being on a budget can make grocery shopping difficult, especially living in dorms or small apartments where space and kitchen appliances are limited. Here are some do’s and don’ts of grocery shopping:

DO: 1. Buy what you have room to store and keep.

If cupboard space is limited, then buying excess of shelf items will leave you with no room to store it. If only a mini fridge is available, then buying excessive amounts of refrigerated, frozen or cold food items will mean some may have to go rotten in order to make room for others.

2. Make a list before going grocery shopping and stick to it.

When impulse-buying or randomly shopping for items, we tend to spend more than initially planned due to buying something we think looks good. If you make a list, you’re more prone to stick to it until the final item is crossed off.

3. Buy to-go snack items that are easy to throw in a backpack or bag that won’t leak out.

Most professors allow eating in their classes if it isn’t disruptive, and eating on the go is a big time-saver.

Companies like Nutella and JIF make their own on-the-go snacks with dip and pretzel or breadsticks.

Lance makes sandwich crackers with cheese, cream cheese and chives, peanut butter and honey and many more flavors.

4. Buy fresh produce if it will be used within a day or two.

Otherwise, the produce will go bad, and it will have been a waste of money. If produce is more of a want for the future, canned or frozen fruit and vegetables are better.

Frozen fruit lasts long in freezers, and frozen vegetables can be steamed or thawed using either a microwave or a stovetop.

(Facebook) Students can use coupons to save money while grocery shopping.

5. Use coupons when you can.

The few cents saved when using coupons can add up to a lot of extra money for the future.

Plus, it can help with building a savings for a special day out or an event on campus, around Indiana or a trip home for the weekend.

6. Buy only the number of items you can consume in a week at a time.

When breaks come or students go home for the weekend, food is left sitting on the shelf or in the fridge can go bad quickly. A trip to the grocery store once a week can help in the long run, rather than going every day or once a month.

Don’t: 1. Go shopping when you’re hungry.

You will buy items that look good or that you cannot consume in the near future, and money will be wasted. Instead, go after you’ve eaten a big meal, like lunch or dinner. This also helps in making more room before you go shopping.

2. Go shopping when you’re tired.

You’ll feel rushed and feel like you just want to get done, so many items are bought in haste without thinking it through.

Instead, try to go after breakfast or when you’re wide awake if you have the time. Don’t go at night or early in the morning before you eat breakfast.

3. Bulk shop.

Unless you have room to store the bulk items where they won’t go bad, these items may get lost in the hustle and bustle of college life, or you may end up getting tired of eating the same snack over and over, so they get shoved to the back of a cupboard or fridge to be forgotten about over time.

4. Buy sale items because they are on sale.

Make sure it’s food you will use before purchasing, and you will have the room to store it.

Sometimes, a sale isn’t much of a sale, as the item can be expired, previously opened, etc. Expired food is a big no, as it can cause food poisoning or worse.

5. Buy food without proper storage containers or baggies.

If you don’t have plastic bowls and lids, ziplock baggies or even plastic wrap and foil, some food could go bad. When you open a bag or have leftovers, storage containers come in handy to keep the food fresh.

6. Buy only snack or to-go items.

Sometimes it’s nice to have a sit-down meal. It’s a nice way to get together with friends you may not see often and catch up on everyone’s busy lives. Some snack items are okay, but don’t go overboard.

Be sure to buy healthy, not just sugary foods.

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August 26, 2019

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Netflix Original shows hook students for season two MEGAN DONNY Culture Editor M.Donny@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Netflix Original shows have become some of the mostwatched shows of all time, beating a lot of television network shows.

Today, many college students choose to stream their shows on Netflix instead of watching cable television shows because they don’t want to pay high prices for channels they won’t watch. It is not only much easier to watch your favorite programs on Netflix, but it has some of its own Netflix Originals that you can view only through their streaming service.

Some of the most popular ones streamed by college students are “Big Mouth,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Sex Education,” “13 Reasons Why” and “Insatiable.”

“I’ve watched ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘On My Block,” Thea McCollough (junior, fashion merchandising) said.

While some, like “Stranger Things,” have become extremely popular, others have not made as big of an impact. For Netflix Original shows to be successful, they have to have a combination of a good cast as well as a unique storyline that captures multiple demographics. “‘Stranger Things’ follows a group of middle school kids in the ‘80s,” McCollough said. “It has a ‘Goonies’ type of feel to it.

The show makes me wish I had been a teenager in the ‘80s.”

Two of Netflix’s animated shows, “Big Mouth” and “BoJack Horseman,” have entertained students with their crude humor and captivating plots.

The show “Big Mouth” follows two middle school boys as they try to navigate puberty and deal with their “hormone monsters.”

Viewers find the scenarios relatable to their own middle school experiences.

“I watched it with my mom,” Haley Brown (junior, biology) said. “It was pretty inappropriate, but luckily she found it just as hilarious as I did.”

A new Netflix Original show is “Dead to Me.” It was released on the streaming platform in May. The show focuses on two women who become close through a therapy group. It was

(Facebook) Marvel plans to release “Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” May 7, 2021.

Students react to new Marvel movies, TV shows ABE ESHELMAN

Staff Writer A.Eshelman@iup.edu @DukeOfKalos

This article contains opinion.

(Facebook) Students look forward to streaming season two of “Dead to Me” (top) and “On My Block” (bottom).

an instant hit and was renewed for a second season in June. “‘Dead to Me’ is such a good and suspenseful Netflix Original,” Olivia Tavoletti (junior, marketing) said. “You can really feel the emotions of the two main characters and they have a great supporting cast.

“The first season ended on a

cliffhanger, so it makes me more excited for the second season to come out,” Tavoletti said.

Though Netflix has seen its largest drop in subscribers this year, it continue to release more seasons of their most popular programs, as well as create lots of new original shows and movies.

With the release of the record-breaking “Avengers: Endgame” and the follow-up Spider-Man film released in June, “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) winds down to a close on its most recent major arc, commonly referred to as the “Infinity Saga.”

With the saga behind them, Disney announced the start of its next phase, codenamed “MCU Phase 4.” The next set of Marvel releases comprises several films, as expected, but surprised fans with canonical live-action television shows as part of the main MCU. The film list consists of “Black Widow,” focusing on the Avengers’ resident spy and starting female team member, “Eternals,” introducing characters from the comic of the same name into the MCU, and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” hailed as a proper telling of Iron Man’s magical foe, the Mandarin. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” will star Doctor Strange and the Scarlet Witch, and finally, “Thor: Love and Thunder” will feature Thor, Jane Foster wielding Thor’s magical hammer, Mjolnir, Korg and the new leader of Asgard, Brunnhilde, also known as Valkyrie.

Paige Krimm (junior, criminology), a fan of Marvel and the MCU’s “Infinity Saga” of films, said that she is “excited for Thor” and loves the direction his character is going.

The television shows that will be part of Phase 4 will all be exclusives to Disney+, Disney’s streaming service and rival to Netflix and Hulu, and its role as a hub for the MCU is comparable to DC’s “DC Universe” streaming program.

Krimm said she is very excited for Disney+ and is curious to see what the platform will offer Marvel fans. The Phase 4 television shows are comprised of the team-up series hinted at the end of “Endgame,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and the series detailing the adventures of the Scarlet Witch and Vision (including the lead-up to her crossover with Doctor Strange), “WandaVision.”

The other prosed Disney+ shows are the adventures of the mischievous Norse god of the same name, “Loki,” the hypothetical series of possible alternative stories based on the comic series of the same name, “What If…?” and the adventures of the Avengers’ resident archer and his protégé, Kate Bishop, “Hawkeye.”

The project Krimm is most excited for is the Hawkeye series, because Hawkeye is her favorite Avenger and she has enjoyed the action and comedy that his writing and fighting style have brought to the “Avengers” films.

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August 26, 2019

Culture

How to relive Woodstock: What to listen to, watch and read

Drawing from archival film footage and narrated by a cast of participants and attendees including Woodstock executive producer Michael Lang, singer-songwriter David Crosby and "security" chief Wavy Gravy of the Hog Farm commune , the episode offers a blow-by-blow accounting of those three days, as well as context on the era, such as the effect the Vietnam War had on the counterculture, and the stress and nationwide unrest following the assassinations of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

RANDALL ROBERTS TNS Los Angeles Times

When organizers of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair settled on the slogan "3 days of peace & music," few could have known that a more apt tag line would have added " ... and 50 years of bragging about it." Considered by a certain generation its pinnacle cultural achievement, the experience of 72 hours on Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, NY, in August 1969 has generated as many hours of glorified content as there were LSD trips on the grounds — or at least it seems that way.

But if you're willing to look beyond the baby-boomer propaganda, Woodstock as an event was still a visual and aural feast that drew not just a generation of spirited young rebels but also ascendant artists, photographers, writers, filmmakers and sound guys.

The bill made legends out of many: Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Sly & the Family Stone and The Who among them.

That the first Woodstock was well-documented wasn't a foregone conclusion. Portable video cameras weren't yet common, to say nothing of smartphones, but Woodstock promoters had arranged for filmmakers to document performances on 16 mm color film. They hired some of the best rock photographers to capture the scene and the vibe. They knew to get all the performances onto high-quality tape, and they booked sound engineers Eddie Kramer and Lee Osborne to record them.

With the freaks, stoners, rockers, folkies and groovers of America (and the grandchildren who love them) once again celebrating Woodstock — the mud, love, pot, brown acid, granola, community, nakedness and music — here are some of the best recordings, films and books that came out of those three days and nights.

WHAT TO LISTEN TO "Woodstock: Back to the Garden" (Rhino) The definitive new 50th anniversary archive from the lauded archival imprint is the full, minute-by-minute recording of the Woodstock concert. Issued as a limited-edition 38-CD box set, the project was meticulously produced by archivist and writer Andy

WHAT TO READ

(Facebook) Fans of the music pheonmenon could listen to “Woodstock: Back to the Garden” to help relive the entire concert experience.

Zax and Rhino Entertainment's Steve Woolard, with the transfers produced by Brian Kehew and Zax. Sourcing the original 8-track masters and back-up monitor recordings, the team worked to separate fact from fiction.

The result is nothing short of stunning. As Zax notes in an opening essay, some of the Woodstock myths have come to be understood as fact: "[I]f we're still thinking and arguing and opining about the meaning of Woodstock after half a century, shouldn't we at least have a set of baseline facts about what happened there?" By the end of that last disc, those facts are incontrovertible.

The set is available in a number of formats, including curated highlight collections on LP, CD and digital download. Those unable to procure the already-sold-out full set should get the blank Maxell cassettes ready. Starting Aug. 15 at exactly 5:07 p.m. Eastern time, Philadelphia noncommercial radio station WXPN (and wxpn.org) will present a 72-hour synchronized broadcast called "Woodstock — As It Happened — 50 Years On." Tapping the "Back to the Garden" box, the station will play, to the minute, the entire roster of performances, as well as the bounty of between-set onstage announcements. You'll need about three dozen XLII-90s.

"Woodstock: Music From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (Cotillion used LP) Woodstock's investors lost money on the event — lack of perimeter fencing was one reason —

but they eventually ended up in the black. In addition to a self-produced movie, promoters rushed a triple LP to market. The selections of songs from The Who, Joplin, John Sebastian and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are interspersed with some of those myth-making announcements about the brown acid and the pending rainstorm.

Another notable untruth: that all of the songs on the album were recorded at Woodstock. According to Zax, some tracks were sourced from entirely different concerts. The album sold a ton, and the proof is all over the vinyl collecting site Discogs. It currently lists the triple album for sale at $10. Looking for extra authenticity? Buy the double 8-track tape for $13.99.

Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Live at Woodstock" (Concord) Yes, a bunch of acts had great gigs at Woodstock, but John Fogerty and band's chunka-chunka workingman's rock, as proved on this just-issued release, packed a particularly hard punch. "Proud Mary" is a communal singalong; "Bad Moon Rising" feels, in hindsight, like a portent. The band's rendition of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You" is a wild, yowling thrill — and negates the notion that Woodstock was entirely peaceful.

WHAT TO WATCH "Woodstock: The Movie" (Warner Bros.)

The official documentary, released a mere seven months after the event, is an impressionistic

glimpse of the weekend as viewed through rose-colored lenses.

Directed by Michael Wadleigh, the movie won the documentary feature Oscar in 1971. Its success helped set the festival's narrative for the millions of Americans who didn't get dirty at Yasgur's farm, edited (in part by a young Martin Scorsese) to further the "peace and love" message.

A beautifully shot cinema verite collage of performances, interviews, on-the-grounds revelry and mud-sliding joy, the film mostly glosses over the festival's bad trips, barefooted puncture wounds and haphazard production. By his demeanor in the film, the sanitation guy vacuuming hippie waste from the porta-johns could be picking daisies.

As writer Zax notes in the "Back to the Garden" set, "Wadleigh's film tells a story of Woodstock, but it doesn't tell the story." The film does offer intimate access to the performances, including Sly & the Family Stone's seminal set.

An updated director's cut goes further, adding about 90 additional minutes of full-song performance footage.

"American Experience: Woodstock" (PBS) In its newest season, the long-running PBS documentary series offers an informative overview and history of the production, from its seeds as a would-be Woodstock, N.Y., recording studio concept that united the four partners, to an escape-for-the-weekend music and art festival inspired by the Monterey Pop Festival two years earlier .

"The Road to Woodstock," by Michael Lang with Holly George-Warren (HarperCollins) It's better to remember Lang as a strapping young bad boy on a motorcycle at Woodstock '69 than in his recent capacity as a windmill-tilting septuagenarian making the news with his abandoned 50th anniversary festival. The visionary young promoter imagined the original event with three others, he writes in "The Road to Woodstock," and pushed forward with noble determination to create a magical event.

Written in collaboration with music journalist George-Warren, the book offers the most illuminating account of the festival.

"For me, Woodstock was a test of whether people of our generation really believed in one another and the world were were struggling to create," Lang writes. "How would we do when we were in charge?

Could we live as the peaceful community we envisioned? I'd hoped we could."

"Woodstock Vision" by Elliott Landy (Backbeat) Along with Laurel Canyon chronicler Henry Diltz, photographer Landy shot Woodstock from the stage and captured now iconic images of performers including Joplin, Grace Slick, Joe Cocker and Richie Havens. At the time, the photographer was staying in the town of Woodstock and documenting Bob Dylan and the Band's work.

The first part of "Woodstock Vision" showcases those photos; the second focuses solely on the festival. Most striking are Landy's images of the Woodstock crowd as seen from the stage: Each of the thousands of faces gazing back represents a different adventure, another epiphany.

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Sports

Sports Editor: Elliot Hicks – E.Hicks@iup.edu

Crimson Hawks look to ‘talon up,’ rebound in 2019 STEVEN LANGDON JR. Managing Editor S.Langdon@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

It is that special time of the year once again.

It is time to “talon up” with the new Crimson Hawks football season on the horizon.

Paul Tortorella enters his third season as head coach of IUP football team, having accrued a 21-4 record, including an NCAA National Semifinal appearance in 2017.

During the offseason, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) voted on who would win each division, with the Crimson Hawks picked to finish third, receiving one first-place vote in the West by the coaches behind Slippery Rock and California (Pa.).

After IUP’s eight-win season a year ago, the big storyline this season will be filling the hole at quarterback left by graduate Lenny Williams Jr. The Hawks’ record-breaking quarterback finished his career with 106 total touchdowns, making him the lenny williams first IUP player to break the jr. century mark for touchdowns in a career.

That leads us to this spring. The quarterback battle is in full swing with two players at the helm. One player is one that fans may remember from last season: sophomore Javon Davis. The other is redshirt senior Quinton Maxwell, a transfer from Ohio University.

Davis is widely considered the starting quarterback after relieving Williams last season, entering into lopsided contests when the game was already decided. Davis showed his arm strength, as many of his plays were throws past 15 yards.

The skill he needed to work on was clear in accuracy. He finished

Sports

(IUP Athletics)

(IUP Athletics)

Dondrea Tillman had 10.5 sacks in 2018.

Dom McNeil caught six touchdown passes last season.

the season completing 11 out of 841 yards and six touchdowns.

23 passes for 171 yards and three Running back Justice Evans is touchdowns. the x-factor of the IUP offense.

Maxwell joins the ranks as an- Entering his junior season, Evans other Division I talent turning to is looking strong with more than Division II for one more shot 1,700 yards and 14 touchto make the league. He is downs on the ground experienced, making seven through two seasons. starts in two seasons with He has track speed, the Bobcats. and his short stature alHe is considered more lows him to cut through of a pocket passer but has the line with ease. The running capabilities. For his dual threat also had 188 JUSTICE career, he has a 55.6 comyards and two touchEVANs pletion percentage for 1,773 downs as a receiver out yards and 12 touchdowns. He also of the backfield in 2018. has five touchdowns on the ground, While having a strong offense is four of the five he had last season. needed, it is the defense that helps While having a strong quar- win games. terback is all fine and dandy, they Last season, the defense was need players to receive the ball. inconsistent. It gave up almost 350 And the Crimson Hawks enter with yards of offense per game but also a rather strong group. had three sacks per game.

The team returns four of the top Leading the team was defenfive targets from last season, in- sive end Dondrea Tillman with 10.5 cluding top receiver Dom McNeil. sacks, 10th in the nation. He returns McNeil enters his final season for his senior season and will look in 2019. He was the go-to man to continue his form. and was, without a doubt, the best The defense has the top two pass-catcher with 42 catches for tacklers from the previous season in

linebackers Damon Lloyd and Nick will look to break up more passes Amendola. Lloyd had 112 tackles than last year. The senior had one and Amendola had 86 a season interception and 10 pass deflecago. Both players enter their final tions in 2018. season in the Crimson and On special teams, QaGray. shah Carter was the IUP A family reunion of sorts Men’s Freshman of the Year will take place on the delast season as named by fense. Looking down the the athletics department. roster, there are two Lloyds Right from the start, it was on the team: Damon and obvious he was going to his younger brother, Darbe something special, as QASHAH rius. he took the opening kickCARTER Darrius signed with IUP off to the house during the during the 2019 signing period and home opener. will play linebacker like his brother.

He had 801 kick return yards, To the defensive backs we go, which broke an IUP record for a and the big name has to be JR Ste- season and has him third all-time vens. The All-American last season for return yards in one season will be the No. 1 corner again. He alone. His 28.6 return average had finished with two interceptions, him finish 15th in the nation. down from seven two years ago.

Apart from returning, he rose up There is a cornerback battle the depth chart to the slot wideout for the second spot that will most and collected seven catches for 89 likely be between Kyeer Geising- yards. Look for his role to grow this er and Obi Anyatonwu. Expect to season. see both a lot though, as Tortorella The Crimson Hawks will look for likes his nickel defensive sets. their ninth straight winning season The enforcer returns in safety this year, kicking off their season Shaq Jones. He is a hard hitter that Sept. 7 against New Haven.

August 26, 2019

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August 26, 2019

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(IUP Athletics) Jacobo Diaz, Dante Lombardi, Willem Brandwijk and Marko Krivacevic will begin their professional basketball careers overseas this season.

Quartet of Crimson Hawks continuing basketball dreams overseas JEFF HART

Staff Writer J.R.Hart2@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

Last year was a monumental and historic season for the IUP Crimson Hawks basketball team.

Filled with thrilling highs and heart-stopping lows, it seems that success has paid off for a few players.

After IUP’s run in the postseason ended, many were left wondering what’s next for these young athletes.

It seems that this question has been answered not once, not twice, but four times over.

Jacobo Diaz, Dante Lombardi, Willem Brandwijk and Marko Krivacevic are all going overseas to play ball at the professional level.

If their time together in Indiana was any indication, the world is about to be put on notice by the superior talent that was on display by all of these players.

Let’s start off with none other than Diaz, who was clearly a standout from many Division II athletes due to his outstanding talent and leadership ability.

Diaz, who averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game, was

in the top 10 in 15 statistical categories and helped lead IUP to a PSAC championship berth.

His isolation scoring, long-range ability and supreme athleticism will no doubt help him on his new team, Marín Peixegalego. He should be a force to be reckoned with for many years in his home country of Spain.

Lombardi is the next Crimson Hawk to grace the international headlines, as he has signed with S.C. Luistânia and hopes to create some noise in Portugal.

To many fans in attendance, it was obvious that Lombardi had the natural proclivity to be a superb offensive talent/catalyst for his teammates. Lombardi averaged 17 points and two steals per game.

His performance during the March tournament this past year propelled his squad to victory and garnered him PSAC Tournament MVP. Lombardi will now have a chance to showcase his abilities on one of the highest stages. One thing Portugal needs to know ahead of time is that this man shines when the lights are on him. It should be interesting to see how his high-volume shooting and electrifying transition offense translate in Portugal.

Next we have none other than the dynamic duo at the center position. The Crimson Hawks started

the season with Willem Brandwijk starting at center. Here, he showcased his acumen for defense and second-chance point opportunities.

Brandwijk will finally be able to play the game he loves for a living.

Furthermore, he will be able to return to his home in the Netherlands. He was signed by Feyenoord Basketball over the summer and will be able to be with his family and continue his passions. I guess you can get your cake and eat it, too.

Brandwijk averaged 7.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game when the year was said and done.

These stats are only a fraction of his full potential due to the stellar offensive production from Duquesne transfer Marco Krivacevic. The almost 7-foot-tall center developed his offensive game as the season progressed.

The Hungarian big man was a deadeye on offense and shot a staggering 63.2 percent from the field. Krivacevic gave his squad some crucial minutes off the bench and split the offensive burden with Brandwijk.

This proved to be crucial to the Hawks’ success last year and demonstrated to the Hungarian basketball team Szombathely Falco

that his talent could not be denied.

Much like that of his former teammate, Krivacevic will be able to play basketball at the highest level in his home country. It will truly

be one intriguing homecoming to witness for both players.

The future looks bright for this group, but time will tell if they can dominate at the next level.

Pietropola signs in Italy

(IUP Athletics) Former IUP football athlete Mike Pietropola has signed to continue his football career playing professionally in Italy for Estra Guelfi Firenze, according to the team’s official website in an article which was posted on the IUP football Twitter account. Pietropola’s versatility while with the Crimson Hawks, where he saw prominent action at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back, was praised by the team’s general manager Edoardo Cammi. “For me, he is a real joker,” Cammi said of his ability to play multiple positions. Pietropola will primarily serve as a defensive back in Firenze’s upcoming season.

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August 26, 2019

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Eventful MLB season speeds toward playoffs JAKE SLEBODNICK

News Editor J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu @Jake_WIUP

As September draws closer, let’s look back at the 2019 MLB regular season and see how the postseason seems to be shaping up so far.

Leading off, 2019 witnessed three no-hitters this season.

Mike Fiers gathered his second career no-no May 7, and the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim each had a combined no-hitter.

Next, the MLB has some unlikely leaders in both the standings and stats.

There were some teams that turned a new leaf this season and are taking their respective divisions by storm.

One of them is the Minnesota Twins, which, after adding power hitters to their roster in the offseason, quickly rose to first in the AL Central.

However, the Cleveland Indians caught up shortly after the trade deadline, acquiring talent such as Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes, who doubled their run production and allowed them to come back to tie the division lead after trailing by eight games entering August.

Their counterpart in the NL saw a battle for first among each team throughout the entire season.

The Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are within a game and a half of each

other as of Aug. 17, and the Cincinnati Reds rose from 16 games out to only six back of the division. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the only team in the Central to start strong and flatline at the end of the season.

The AL East added intrigue to the season as an injury-ridden New York Yankees club defied the odds to take first place from the Tampa Bay Rays, who held an eight-game lead for the majority of April, May and June.

The Yankees were also the first team of the season to surpass 70 wins.

The Boston Red Sox are still on the winning side of things, even though their chances at a repeat championship season are diminishing. They are quite a ways back in the division with a 68-61 record.

The AL and NL West divisions were as many predicted. The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers have been annihilating the competition from the beginning and look to be high favorites to make the World Series.

The NL East is starting to take its final form as the Atlanta Braves are running away with the division.

However, this was no easy feat.

The Philadelphia Phillies gave a very competitive run, but injuries to major producers such as Andrew McCutchen and Jake Arrieta hindered a division lead. But they are still in contention for a wild card spot with their rivals, the Washing-

(TNS) The Los Angeles Angels tribute late pitcher Tyler Skaggs by placing No. 45 on the mound.

ton Nationals, who were pushed aside in preseason playoff talks.

Up next, we will look at the individual leaders in the league.

Currently, Cody Bellinger has established himself as a true threat to opponents as he leads all of MLB in home runs (41) and is regarded as a high favorite to win the NL MVP award.

Freddie Freeman and Josh Bell will surpass 100 RBIs this season, giving a very competitive race for a Silver Slugger award between two all-star first basemen.

D.J. LeMahieu, Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres and Domingo German have usurped Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Masahiro Tanaka as leaders of the New York Yankees.

Michael Brantley, Yordan Alva-

rez and Yuli Gurriel lead a power resurgence in Houston in hopes of winning their second World Series in three years.

Shane Bieber and Zac Plesac gave the Cleveland Indians the secure bottom of their pitching rotation, which lead to keeping their playoff hopes alive.

And of course, Mike Trout is being Mike Trout in Anaheim.

Now let’s look at an eerie part of the 2019 season.

On July 1, Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs passed away unexpectedly while playing on the road. This not only shook up the Angels organization, but it left a permanent scar on the regular season around the MLB. But when the Angels returned home July 13, Skaggs’ birthday,

fate showed its face and brought a whole new meaning to the game.

Prior to the game against the Seattle Mariners, Skaggs’ mother, Debbie Hetman, threw the first pitch while the team surrounded her in jerseys with her son’s name and number.

As each player took the field wearing “45,” they did not know that history would be made that night.

RHP Taylor Cole pitched the first two innings, while Felix Pena finished the last seven, allowing no hits on a very somber evening.

This is an example that anything can happen in baseball.

One downside to the season was the lack of transactions due to players asking for high contracts.

This all started with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado before the season. Players look to take advantage of the lack of a salary cap and play for money rather than to win.

It was the reason why there were virtually no moves at the trade deadline and a very slow offseason for the hot stove.

Other than those two negatives, the season was on the upside since no one team ran away with the league this season. It was a fairly competitive year with lots of intriguing events, some good and some bad, and as we near the postseason, the excitement seems to only grow with each day.

With about a month left until the playoffs, it’s go time.

Revisiting 2019 Division Predictions (Standings accurate as of 8/22) Elliot Hicks - Sports Editor AL East

NL East

brad o’hara - ‘18-19 lead sports writer AL East

83-46

NL East

59-67

NL Central

AL Central

AL West

67-60 NL Central

AL Central

AL West

58-70

68-58 NL West

82-47 85-44

NL Central

77-50

65-62 NL West

82-47

NL East

83-46

74-54 65-62

NL West

AL East

66-60

77-50

52-75

jake slebodnick - news editor

68-61

AL Central

74-54

82-47

NL East

66-60 NL Central

AL West

AL East

68-61

66-60 AL Central

steven langdon jr. - MANAGING editor

AL West

NL West

82-47 58-70

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August 26, 2019

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(Facebook) The St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2018-19.

(TNS) Jack Hughes was selected No. 1 overall by New Jersey in the 2019 NHL Draft.

Interesting season ahead following Blues’ first Stanley Cup TYLER COMO

Staff Writer T.D.Como@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

Though the new NHL season hasn’t yet come, we can still look ahead at what’s to be expected.

But before we start going into what’s to come, there has to be conversation about what has already been, from the newly crowned Stanley Cup champions, to big trades during the off season.

If I had to give a nickname to the previous postseason, it would be “Season of the Underdogs.”

Here’s a quick recap: each team that won their division was knocked out in the first round, the most notable being the Tampa Bay Lightning. Their sweep was one of many in this postseason, as the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders were also swept in their final playoff series.

Over the past two years, both teams that claimed the cup secured their first for the respecting hockey club. The Washington Capitals were 2018’s first-time champs, and the St. Louis Blues also did so

in 2019.

It makes you think, could this year bring the cup to new grounds?

Even though they may have better luck getting into the playoffs than making it to the final, could a Canadian team break the drought from the past 30 years? Or will a cupless club get the chance to lift Lord Stanley?

What makes the Blues’ win so special was where they started at the beginning of the new year, last place in the NHL. Needless to say, the odds weren’t in the Blues’ favor, especially facing off against the heavy-hitting and playoff-experienced Boston Bruins.

Boston was already feeling pretty cocky after the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl and the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. Sadly for the Bruins, it was an underdog story.

Congratulations to St. Louis on their achievement of etching their names in the barrel of the Stanley Cup. The next season will prove to be a fight just to uphold that kind of accomplishment, but nothing is impossible to newly crowned world

champs, as well as the rest of the 30 teams in the NHL. The path to greatness continues in October.

The start of a new season welcomes young athletes into the professional league.

Jack Hughes is no stranger to the spotlight. Since 2016, he’s claimed an exuberant amount of accomplishments.

Hughes was attained to the World Juniors Ice Hockey Championships two years in a row, as well as being named for the U.S. All-Star team. More recently, he was named one of the top three players on the team and managed to rally the most points for both years as well.

Hughes is skilled in just about everything he does. He has always strived with competition, being the middle of two brothers. His older brother, Quinn, was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2018 in the first round. So while his brother may have gotten the head start in the NHL, the second sibling wasn’t far behind.

The New Jersey Devils knew they couldn’t pass an opportunity on a prospect like him. In addition

to bringing in the young buck, general manager Ray Shero decided he’d try to find a way to get some veteran assistance that could help push the Devils where they needed to be starting the new season. Acquiring P.K. Subban could help Hughes adapt to the league and push him into becoming a well-rounded defensive man.

The No. 2 pick for the 2019 NHL draft belonged to the New York Rangers, who selected Kaapo Kakko.

Kakko and Hughes were the frontrunners for pick No. 1. Nonetheless, Kakko has accomplished just as much and proven enough to be considered in the same realm as Hughes. Representing Finland, Kakko won gold during the World Championships, as well as gold for the World Junior Championships.

The Rangers were already busy during the trade deadline, but they kept the motor running to bring in a few more faces during this time of rebuild.

By making changes to the roster but also bringing the team some quality players through free agen-

cy, the Rangers could easily speed up their rebuild process. Players like Jacob Trouba, Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox could also help the rebuild.

Kirby Dach was the third overall pick of the draft. His resume built up similarly to Hughes and Kakko. Though he never made it to a World Championship, he succeeded in any case.

Winning the 2018/2019 Hilinka Memorial Gold Medal and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup Champion brought Dach to the spotlight in a great way. He showed he was young and talented; all he had to do was get drafted so he could continue his development in the professional league.

The Chicago Blackhawks have missed out on playoffs for a few years now and are looking for something to bring a spark, especially looking at the some of the competition in the Central Division.

Other teams in the Western Conference added younger and more diverse talent, but if Chicago can find something, they may return to their glory of the early 2010s.

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August 26, 2019

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Dadowski: Can Steelers return to glory in 2019?

NICK DADOWSKI

Staff Writer N.J.Dadowski@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

This article contains opinion.

It’s been more than six months since we saw the anti-climactic conclusion to the highly anticipated 2018 football season. Of course, once again we saw Tom Brady, with the help of his defense, raise the Lombardi Trophy for a sixth time.

Although New England had an ideal finish to their season, many teams finished the year with disappointment. The Kansas City Chiefs were a coin toss away from going to their first Super Bowl since 1969.

The New Orleans Saints perhaps had the sourest finish to their year after a blown pass interference call led to a season-damning overtime interception by Drew Brees.

As for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they didn’t even get a chance to blow it in the postseason, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Prior to the season, and even up until Week 11, the Steelers were considered Super Bowl contenders. Then, after losing four of their last six games, the Steelers watched the playoffs from their couches.

In the Steelers’ defense, they did have to deal with the collapse of Antonio Brown’s conscience and sanity, kicker Chris Boswell’s right toe turning into a brick and on top of all of that, the Le’Veon Bell contract drama (who ended up getting less overall money from the New York Jets than what he sat out for).

The Steelers have had one of the most talented rosters over the decade, so it was no wonder why Mike Tomlin came up in “hot seat” chatter after the season. As a warning, the Steelers fired Tomlin’s buddies off the coaching staff.

Now after a proactive offseason, the Steelers are ready to return to the top of the NFL’s elite football teams. Although they traded Brown and watched Bell walk, they added wideout Donte Moncrief, cornerback Steven Nelson and the versatile hybrid linebacker/safety Mark Barron in free agency. The biggest splash occurred for Pitts-

(TNS) Defensive back Steven Nelson signed with Pittsburgh this summer.

burgh, though, when they traded up to draft linebacker Devin Bush with the 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Bush may have proven he was worth the risk, as he was easily the Steelers’ best player in a 30-28 preseason-opening win over devin the Tampa Bay bush Buccaneers. It’s tough to think he won’t edge out Barron or Vince Williams for one of the starting inside linebacker spots.

The Steelers would be smart to move Barron into the strong safety spot. He has proven in the past he is great in coverage, and that would open up the starting spots for Williams and Bush. This move would also let the Steelers keep long-time special teamer Tyler Matekevich on

the roster. Also, it would finally get Sean Davis off the field. We can only pray.

Speaking of defensive backs, there is plenty of competition for the Steelers at cornerback.

Joe Haden and Steven Nelson should have the starting spots locked up, with Mike Hilton continuing to wreak havoc from the slot.

After the Steelers drafted Justin Layne in the third round, that left them with one roster spot for the former first-rounder Artie Burns or youngster Cam Sutton.

Burns has been a disappointment in his career thus far but had an excellent camp and second preseason game against the Chiefs.

Sutton, however, actually let up a touchdown in the game. It will be interesting to see if it’s too late for Burns to turn things around or if the Steelers will give him another shot.

Going up against them at camp were a group of young wideouts competing for the spot across from starting receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. This group specifically is dealing with the most adversity this preseason, after sudden loss of WR Coach Darryl Drake.

Out of all of them, James Washington has easily made the biggest impact, leading the team in receiving through the first two games of the preseason. Moncrief was the early favorite for the spot, but a fumble in the Chiefs game did not help his chances.

Lastly, the backup quarterback position has been contested between Josh Dobbs and Mason Rudolph.

Although their numbers have looked good, neither has been that impressive so far. Rudolph definitely edges out Dobbs for now, but the second-year play caller hasn’t

been effectively going through his reads. He is very quick to throw balls to his first read, regardless of the amount of traffic the pigskin must pass through.

Dobbs airmailed a pass to rookie Dionte Johnson in the end zone, causing an interception before the half. Dobbs is more or less competing for a roster spot at this point with fourth-stringer Devlin Hodges (the latter having better numbers thus far).

It will be interesting to see how the Steelers bounce back this season. Will this be the year the Steelers get it right and make a deep playoff push? Or will this be another year that I lay in bed all January, miserable and heartbroken?

Regardless, I believe this may be the best NFL season there has ever been. That is, as long as the Browns stay the same old [Bad News] Browns.

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August 26, 2019

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Eagles facing tough roster choices at QB AUSTIN SMITH

Contributing Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

The NFL is back in action with two weeks completed already in the preseason, and we’re not too far from the regular season kickoff.

Even though preseason records do not mean anything in the regular season, backup players and rookies are showcasing their skills for a chance to get locked in on the 53-man roster.

The NFC East is looking to be an interesting division this upcoming season, especially with the Philadelphia Eagles being right into the mix of things.

The Eagles split their first two preseason games with a win and a loss before losing the third. The first game for the birds was played Aug. 8 against the Tennessee Titans. The birds fell to the Titans 27-10.

(TNS) The Eagles signed quarterback Josh McCown following an injury to Nate Sudfeld.

It was a pretty close game early on, but the Titans ended up taking over to get the victory.

Philadelphia’s quarterback situation was a little scary when Nate Sudfeld went down with an injury to his non-throwing arm and tried

to brace the hit. The Eagles then signed Josh McCown because Sudfeld’s recovery was expected to take six weeks after he had gotten surgery. Now, the birds have two quarterbacks right behind Carson Wentz, just in case something

would happen to the MVP. The second preseason game for the birds ended up in a 24-10 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Clayton Thorson was the quarterback for the Eagles and didn’t do too badly. He completed 16-of-26

for 175 yards and a touchdown.

There was some good running done too from Boston Scott, who also got a touchdown for the birds.

Philadelphia looked better for most of this game compared to the first preseason against the Titans.

The defense was better and played more aggressively on third-down situations.

Usually the third and fourth preseason games are when we start seeing the starters and second-string players for a little playing time. There is a bit of a controversy, though, whether or not to keep Thorson, since he did show some promise against the Jaguars.

The problem is the 53-man roster would not be able to contain four quarterbacks, even though Nate Sudfeld is injured, and there would just not be enough room.

It will be interesting to see how the final roster shapes up as Philly rolls toward the regular season. The last preseason game comes against the New York Jets Thursday.

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August 26, 2019

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Pirates’ ship sinking in the ‘Burgh in recent years

(Facebook) The Pittsburgh Pirates have gone from smashing success...

JAKE SLEBODNICK

News Editor J.C.Slebodnick@iup.edu @Jake_WIUP

This article contains opinion.

Coming out of spring training in April, the Pittsburgh Pirates were labeled as one of the sleeper teams to look out for in the MLB, but as the regular season heads into its final month, the Bucs look like they encountered severe insomnia, as they highly underperformed.

These problems came from both the front office and their on-field game plan. Many fans are rapidly losing hope that they will ever see the postseason in the millennium, while very few show optimism.

But where exactly did the Pirates go wrong?

I do want to preface that 2019 was a year where Clint Hurdle had to make do with what he was given.

Starting off the season, the Bucs looked unstoppable on the depth chart. Names like Jameson Taillon, Chris Archer and Felipe Vazquez invoked fear in opponents’ heads, while hitters like Corey Dickerson, Melky Cabrera, Josh Bell and Starling Marte were bound for an explosive offensive season.

Unfortunately, injuries and drastic underperforming led to perhaps one of the worst seasons in Pirates history.

Let’s start with the injuries.

Remember that episode of “SpongeBob Squarepants” where that chocolate salesman gave the speech of having “glass bones and paper skin?” Little did fans know, this would be the definition of the 2019 Pirates.

Starting off the year with the top rotation in baseball, Taillon found issues with his elbow, which resulted in him missing action since early April. This progressed throughout the season and shelved him for the year as he underwent the second Tommy John surgery in his career.

The former No. 2-overall draft pick will not pitch again until 2021.

Trevor Williams, Archer and Joe Musgrove were plagued with the injury bug in May, leaving them out for a few weeks.

This introduced “the opener” strategy, where a reliever would start the game for an inning, then a long reliever would come in shortly after to pitch multiple innings; essentially, a game where the bullpen would pitch the entirety.

This proved to be ineffective since they would open with green arms, such as Montana DuRapau, who gave up three runs in the first.

Two of the Pirates’ star outfielders in Dickerson (shoulder – now with Philadelphia) and Marte (clavicle) were on the injured list for the months of May to July.

However, this would lead to the emergence of Bryan Reynolds,

(TNS) ...to definite disappointment over the last six years.

whom Pittsburgh acquired a few years ago in the Andrew McCutchen trade. Reynolds currently leads the MLB in batting average, something no rookie has ever done.

Veteran catcher Francisco Cervelli suffered yet another concussion, which sidelined him and eventually led to his release.

Rising reliever Nick Burdi looked dominant in his second season but was put out of action for the remainder of the season in April with a collarbone injury.

These are just a few notable injuries that the Bucs encountered this season.

Next is the horrid coaching decisions and the lack of success from the veterans.

I love Clint Hurdle, but I do think his time in Pittsburgh is up. Some of his decisions made have hindered the Pirates’ performance this season more than anything.

One example would be the amount of time he gives pitchers in a game. Granted, I know it’s not all him since Ray Searage is the pitching coach, but you need to know when a pitcher is in hot soup on the hill.

I remember in the early part of the season when Richard Rodriguez looked atrocious pitching, yet he could walk the bases loaded, and he would still be left in with no mound visit. Explicitly looking rattled, he would go on to blow the

lead and get tagged with a loss.

This happened more often than not with other pitchers (*cough* Clay Holmes *cough*), and Hurdle looked like he didn’t care.

Then on offense, José Osuna reached base in four straight games during a stretch in early August, but he was benched for the less-than-impressive Colin Moran.

Joey Cora sent most of our slower runners home on a shallow hit to left, which resulted in them being out by a mile.

And to end this section, I have a question. Why is Erik Gonzalez getting playing time instead of Cole Tucker?

It may be just me, but this isn’t the same Hurdle we saw in the 2013-2015 seasons.

It also didn’t help that Bell was white-hot before the All-Star break, but afterward, he fell into a horrid slump that took three weeks to break.

I must admit, though, through the dumpster fire, a lot of good things have resulted from this season.

One would be the recognition of young talent the organization has.

Reynolds, Mitch Keller, Dario Agrazal and Osuna have proven their worth on the field by both filling in for injuries and powering through these last months even though the postseason is long out of sight.

Keller is looking like the new Gerrit Cole, reaching pitch speeds of 96 miles per hour, Dario is looking like a solid starting pitcher that focuses on getting outs rather than looking flashy, Osuna brings both power and contact to the Buc’s lineup and Reynolds is having one of the best seasons by a rookie in history.

If they take September to give these young stars time on the field and get them accustomed to the Major League level, we may see a very young Pirates depth chart come 2020.

Another pro would be the leadership of the veterans.

Francisco Liriano and Melky Cabrera have not only helped their peers in the clubhouse, but they were also producing on the field.

Cabrera held a .300-plus batting average through the majority of the season, while Liriano established himself as a set-up option for Vazquez when Keone Kela was injured and/or suspended.

And finally, we witnessed Rick Eckstein developing a solid offensive game for the Pirates.

This year was one that the Pirates organization and fanbase would want to forget.

But with a few offseason moves, a staff overhaul and a late-inning strategy adjustment, the Pirates could really make an impact come next season.