03.24.11 Yellow Jacket

51 W. College St. Waynesburg, PA 15370

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Vol. 88 No. 19

PEER EDUCATORS

Congressman addresses graduate nursing students Students

By Stephanie Laing Editorial Assistant One year ago, the health care reform bill was signed into law.

Major changes have left many individuals, including health care providers,

U.S. Congressman Mark Critz also visited Greene County this week to talk to students.

See B1 for more.

with questions and concerns.

One class in Waynesburg University’s Master

of Science Nursing program, a cohort group from UPMC Mercy Hospital, took the initiative to find answers.

Congressman Jason Altmire visited Waynesburg University’s Monroeville Center yesterday

from 1 to 2 p.m. to answer to discuss Medicare and their questions.

Medicaid, effects on hosAltmire, who voted pitals, single-payer sysagainst the original health tem and health informacare reform bill, explained tion technology. how the reform affects “[I found most valuthem as health care able] the specifics of providers.

The group continued See CONGRESSMAN on A2

told to ‘take back night’ on April 4

By Kyle Edwards Region Editor

High and lifted up

For the third consecutive year, Waynesburg University will host “Take Back the Night,” a program that aims to raise awareness of sexual violence.

The Waynesburg University Peer Educators are the hosting the event, which starts at 7 p.m. on April 4.

“Take Back the Night began as a reaction to the need for women to avoid ‘being out at night,’ meaning they alone were traditionally responsible for protecting themselves,” said Mary Hamilla, director of the University peer education program.

“Often sexual assault has been dismissed as not such a big deal or as the victim’s fault and victims rarely spoke of it.”

Unfortunately, while penalties for sexual assault have become much more stringent, many victims still do not feel supported in reporting the crime, Hamilla said.

“We hope to empower victims to be heard and to empower bystanders to help prevent this crime,” she said.”

Take Back the Night is

Roberts Chapel construction continues, workers finish installation of steeple

Photos by Amanda Rice, Gregory Reinhart and Lisa Jaeger

The steeple arrived on campus last week on three trucks (top left). On March 16 and 17, workers hoisted the two sections of the steeple onto Roberts Chapel. The Chapel is scheduled to be completed by August.

See EDUCATORS on A2

YOUTH DAY

University should celebrate Christian heritage, Students connect with pastor says at 161st Charter Day convocation local teens, discuss making of ‘real heroes’

By Megan Campbell Staff Writer The University hosted its annual youth day on March 19. The event helped youth discover what it means to follow Jesus Christ through activities and games, worship and workshops.

The theme this year was “The Making of a Real Hero.”

Many Waynesburg University students as well as various youth groups from all around Greene County and the surrounding Pittsburgh region participated in the event.

University Chaplain Tom Ribar helped with the event. ”Our focus is to invite See YOUTH on A4

By Sarah Bell Editorial Assistant Enter the procession led by the sound of bagpipes. This is the start of Waynesburg University’s Charter Day Convocation, celebrating 161 years.

Dr. Dana Baer, dean of Undergraduate Studies, opened the event with a call to worship.

“Let us prepare to stand before the Word of God,” Baer said. “Let us worship God in spirit and truth.”

The invocation was presented by the Rev.

Photo by Lisa Jaeger

The Rev. Dr. Stuart Broberg addresses the congregation during the Charter Day convocation, held Tuesday.

William A. Sukolsky, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Waynesburg.

President Timothy

Thyreen introduced the speaker through a quote

by St. Augustine, “Pray as though everything

See BROBERG on A2

SPORTS

REGION

ARTS & LIFE

Maria Shepas breaks the single-game goal record in the Jackets’ loss.

See Page C1

Two local businesses recently celebrated spending 50 years operating in the county.

Many students spent spring break serving others on mission trips.

INSIDE Copyright © 2010 by Waynesburg University

depended upon God. Work as though everything depended upon you.”

The Rev. Dr. Stuart Broberg addressed the Convocation in his speech, “The Seed of a Nation.”

According to the Waynesburg University website, Broberg has been a pastor for 25 years.

He commonly addresses the issues of planned giving, capital campaigns, stewardship and church revitalization and growth.

Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A1-A4 Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1, B4 Editorial/Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2, B3

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C1-C4 Arts & Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D1-D3 Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D4

See Page B1

See Page D1

YELLOW JACKET

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Campus

Broberg praises seniors

then done. Music, the arts, knowledge, writing; it all began in the human heart, but by a spiritual Continued from A1 impulse placed there by the Creator,” Broberg said.

Broberg began his “The seed is planted by speech by joking with the the hand of God.” Waynesburg University audience and addressing the students chosen for was founded by the CumPresbyterian the 2011 Who’s Who berland Among Students in Amer- Church 162 years ago.

The charican Uniter for the versities university and Colleges.

This was a place was signed one year In refunashamed of its after the erence to the stu- Christian heritage; a founding.

“The dents, he place where the best charter of said that of academic excelthis uniif he were to sum- lence would combine versity was plantmarize with Christianity. ed as a his speech by it would Stuart Broberg seed be simple; Charter Day Speaker the hand of “These God...this are my was a living sermon illustrations today. I place unashamed of its do believe you are the seed Christian heritage; a place where the best of academof a nation.”

He continued his ic excellence would comspeech by discussing bine with Christianity,” William Penn, who he said Broberg.

“This is a snapshot of described as a reformer, Christian, Quaker and the Waynesburg University first governor of Pennsyl- on Charter Day 2011.”

He also said that God is vania.

Broberg quoted Penn the sower and the princisaying, “There may be ples that students learn at room there for such a holy Waynesburg University experiment, for the are the seeds.

“The advertising says nations want a precedent and my God will make it ‘We are Waynesburg Unithe seed of a nation. That versity.’ We are the seed of an example may be set up a nation,” Broberg said. to the nations that we “We are the people may do the thing that is William Penn envisioned and hoped for so long truly wise and just.”

Broberg referred back to ago.”

The service also conthis quote throughout his speech. He said that a sisted of the recognition of small seed planted with the Who’s Who Students, faith could grow into a the benediction by the Rev. Tom Ribar, universilarge tree.

“There is spirituality in ty chaplain, and two perthe heart of humanity for formances by the Lampevery good thing that is lighter Concert Choir.

“

Photo by Lisa Jaeger

The Lamplighter Concert Choir performs during Charter Day , held at First Presbyterian Church in Waynesburg.

Charter Day recognizes University’s history

By Sarah Bell Editorial Assistant On March 22, Waynesburg University celebrated the anniversary of its charter. The university received its charter 161 years ago, one year after it was established.

“Charter Day is the celebration of the University’s founding. It was founded by people that were very committed to their faith,” President Timothy Thyreen said. “It was founded by people that supported the idea of men and women getting an education; that all people are children of God and should have equal opportunities.”

Heidi Szuminsky, director of Alumni Relations, said that charter day is an event that recognizes and celebrates the university’s mission.

“Overall it’s a time for us as an institution to celebrate the fact that we’re an institution and our

Congressman visits WU Continued from A1 health care reform and how it’s perceived around party lines. It is unfortunate how much politics plays into health care decisions and health care reform,” said Michelle Fontana, a student in the class and manager of the Trauma and Burns Programs at UPMC Mercy Hospital.

Altmire encouraged nurses, despite their expertise and level of education, to work together as they determine the safest and most cost efficient way to provide health care.

“You talk about not the money that is involved.

You want to talk about how, and you’re uniquely positioned to do this as health care providers, the impact of your job and what you do on the people that we [government officials] represent,” said Altmire. “That helps me remember the personal side of this.”

The discussion veered

mission,” Szuminsky said. “We celebrate the way we got our charter to become Waynesburg College at the time.”

The Charter Day celebration was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Waynesburg at 11 a.m.

The service recognized students chosen for the 2011 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

The convocation also consisted of a prayer service, a speaker, a procession of faculty and a performance by the Lamplighter Concert Choir.

“Because it is a celebration of our history and our mission we invite alumni to come and just participate in the service because our alumni are the foundation of the University,” Szuminsky said.

“They are part of our history and so we just invite them to come back and enjoy the service.”

The Institutional Advancement Office

works with the President’s Office to plan the event.

“I think it’s a way of celebrating but also remembering our responsibilities being Waynesburg alumnus that the people who worked so hard to make sure this school would be [here are remembered],” Thyreen said. “We need to recognize their efforts, but we also need to make the same efforts ourselves to not only improve our communities and our state but to reach out to the world as we do with many of our mission trips.”

Szuminsky believes that Charter Day is a community event and it is important that the community and campus celebrate together.

“Charter Day has always been open to the community because the community is part of our history as well,” Szuminsky said. “We invite those

who want to celebrate with us.”

Although the Charter Day celebration was held in the First Presbyterian Church for many years, next year the event will take place in the finished Roberts Chapel.

President Thyreen recognizes the importance of students having an understanding of the university’s charter and foundation before they graduate.

“I think as a campus many times a student could go through here and not understand the founding; the founding is what is so important because that is what a Waynesburg Education should be about,” Thyreen said.

“It’s important for the students, faculty and staff to have a clear understanding of who we are, what we are and what we want our students to do, not only when their here but also when they leave us and go out to the world.”

away from the health care system, moving onto other political issues such as Altmire stem cell research, budget cuts and funding, welfare reform and the nation’s ability to effectively respond to national crises.

“I try to emphasize to the students [that they shouldn’t] just believe one point of view,” said Chad Rittle, the class’ facilitator and fulltime faculty on the VA grant.

“You need to do your research; you need to ask questions. You need to look at all sides then make up your mind. [Altmire] has one point of view; it is an influential one because he is in Congress, but he is just one point of view.”

Although Altmire presented specifically to the Politics and Health Policy class, the event was open to other MSN students and any interested nursing faculty.

Educators to host event

the fact that it is not just the victim who needs to deal with this issue but all of us can help.”

After the discussion, survivors of sexual violence will share the stories of their ordeals and healing.

“Some of the WU peer educators will facilitate the educational part of the program,” Hamilla said.

“One of our students, Jessie King, is doing her internship with [a Washington County organization that raises awareness about sexual violence and provides counseling for victims] this semester and will speak specifical-

Continued from A1 a national event, so there are rallies all over the country throughout April, Hamilla said.

Monday night’s program will start with a brief overview of the history of Take Back the Night and a summary about the scope of sexual violence.

“There will be discussion of this year’s theme, which is ‘It’s time to get involved,’” Hamilla said.

“The theme highlights

”

ly about Take Back the Night.”

A survivor/therapist will tell her own story of victimization and survival and several Waynesburg students will speak as well.

“We want to emphasize that it is not only women who are victims of this crime,” Hamilla said.

“Many boys are sexu-

ally victimized and adult men experience rape as well. We hope that they too are empowered to speak up and seek the help and support they need.”

The evening will end with a candle lighting ceremony.

“The ceremony symbolizes hope, healing and lighting the night,” said Hamilla.

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

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Campus

Students must take action to alleviate spring allergies, nurse says

By Marisa van der Eijk Staff Writer Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose: You may be suffering from more than a cold.

As the weather starts to warm and the flowers start to bloom, spring allergies start to appear and cause problems for people of all ages. Carol Young, director of health services, said that as soon as the cold stops, the battle with allergies starts.

“People are usually allergic to dust in the winter and pollen in the spring,” said Young. “[But] some people just tend to be more allergic than others.”

Donna Haines, a staff nurse at health services, says that body changes could also contribute to various allergies as well.

In addition, Young said that quantity of allergens substances can often affect an individual’s allergies.

“A person might experience a greater allergic reaction if they are in an environment with a lot of flowers,” she said.

Haines said numerous substances contribute to spring allergies.

“Different types of pollen, ragweed and grasses can all cause allergies during the spring time,” Haines said.

However, the symptoms are rarely bad enough that students have to miss class, Young

said.

Itchy and watery eyes, inflamed sinuses, an itchy throat or even experience migraines all might indicate an allergy.

To lessen the symptoms, students can purchase allergy medications at grocery stores, as many do not require prescriptions. Because of the variety, individuals are able to see which one works best for them.

“There is good news there,” Young said. “The

pharmaceuticals now are much better than they were 10 years ago.”

In addition, Young said students should take several precautions if they do have allergies.

“It’s important to vacuum and cover your bed and pillowcases,” Young says.

Haines says that it’s also important to limit the amount of stuffed animals in rooms.

“Animals can also be an allergy trigger,” Haines

said.

Finally, Haines says that it is very important to just be prepared for allergy season in general.

“Buy your allergy medication in advance and carry your inhaler,” Haines says. “Also wash your hands; just in case.”

Young says to pay attention to the pollen count on the television daily. Keeping an eye on the count will help individuals plan their daily events.

SENATE

Meal guest passes now available for students Director of GAPS urges students to look into graduate school • Because the University went trayless, students can now use one guest pass for a meal this semester.

Only one pass was given to students because the decision to go trayless was made in midsemester. Students on 10-, 14- or 19-meal plans received passes.

• The candidates for next year’s Student Senate Executive Board will be in the Beehive from noon to 1 p.m. on March 29 and in Benedum Dining Hall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on March 30.

Students are encouraged to visit them to discuss their goals for Senate.

They will also be able to vote for next year’s Executive Board.

• Only six students applied for positions. The

Photo by Gregory Reinhart

Senate Academic Vice President Brian Werhle talks about Executive Board elections for next year. lack of applicants brought many questions to mind for many senators and when President Mike Quinn opened the

floor to questions about the voting situation sophomore history major Brandon Grainy had a lot to say.

Grainy asked Quinn if a low turnout had been a problem in previous years, and Quinn said that this was a problem when electing last year’s executive board.

Grainy asked, “Don’t you think that would mean there’s a general lack of interest in Student Senate among the student body?”

“Every organization goes through something like this,” said Quinn.

Due to the fact that all of the positions are running unopposed and the candidates will receive the positions they applied for regardless of how the voting goes, senators began to question the purpose of voting and whether the students’ voice will matter in the voting. ~ Brandon Reed

Networking opportunities abound for business students at R.I.S.E. conference

By Matthew Snyder Staff Writer Known as the largest student investment conference in the world, the Redefining Investment Strategy Education conference will offer four Waynesburg University students the chance to learn from some of the top names in the investment world today.

R.I.S.E. XI will give students the chance to interact with industry leaders.

Puja Mikkilineni, Joel Wingard, Mark Hlatky and Joshua Cogar will travel to the University of Dayton from March 31 until April 2 to take part in the interactive environment R.I.S.E. presents

“I look forward to watching them learn from this event and hope to make it an annual event....”

Christian Ola Assistant Professor of Business Administration

to the students and professionals that will attend the conference.

“This is a really great chance for our students to participate in higherlevel discussions regarding investment theory, practical application and meet some tremendous contacts in the industry,” said Assistant Professor of Business Administration Christian Ola.

“Their resumes were distributed to 350 plus professionals from industry, graduate schools, etc. I look forward to watching them learn from this event and hope to make it an annual trip for some members of the student investment club.”

Ola will be taking members of the Investment Club to the R.I.S.E. conference for

the first time this year.

Students attending the conference were encouraged to have resumes prepared and sent to the conference.

The conference gives students a chance to make valuable connections and give themselves a better chance in the investment world.

The R.I.S.E. conference has a history of giving students a firsthand look into the investing world.

Events such as having Dr. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, speak at the conference and hosting NASDAQ’s first-ever-on-a-collegecampus remote closing bell ceremony have See CONFERENCE on A4

By Alex Hinton Editorial Assistant Waynesburg University’s Graduate and Professional Studies Department of Education has many things to offer.

The education programs, including Instructional Technology, Special Education and Teaching, are a great opportunity for anyone interested in furthering their education after college.

Debra Clarke, director of the GAPS education programs, believes that it is important for Waynesburg students to explore their choices and look into graduate programs.

“My advice would be to cast a wide net and look at as many options as possible as far as what your dreams are,” she said.

“Some people limit their options by pigeonholing themselves because they didn’t look at a wide variety of options.”

Each of the three programs in the education department offers something a bit different.

There are two paths to the instructional technology program.

One is a Master of Education designed for those who currently teach and would like to know more about the incorporation of technology in the classroom.

The other is an instructional technology specialist certification, which allows those who complete the program to work at school districts as technology coordinators or coaches, Clarke said.

There are also two separate tracks for the Special Education programs, Clarke said.

There is a master’s degree and a Special Education certification, which is an add-on to a teaching certificate.

“Many school districts require dual certifications,” Clarke said.

“This allows teachers to add that second certification.”

The teaching program offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, a post-baccalaureate degree after an initial teaching degree.

The certification is for those who already have an undergraduate degree but are not certified to teach. The MAT has focuses in English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, general science and social studies.

“We really find that program is for two types of people,” Clarke said.

One type are the individuals who have recently completed a degree in one of the areas the program focuses on but do not yet know what they want to do with that degree and later decide on teaching, she said.

“The other is folks who have been in the work force for a while and want to make a career change and say ‘I think I’d like to be a teacher,’” Clarke said.

The Education programs are offered at Waynesburg’s three GAPS locations: Southpointe, Monroeville and North Hills.

The graduate program is an accelerated program, which runs in See CONSIDER on A4

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Campus

Freshmen invited to complete survey about experiences

By Cori Schipani Staff Writer With spring student todo lists consisting of searching for next year’s roommate, registering for fall classes and making summer plans, it is easy to let messages in the university email account pile up or ignore them altogether. An item easily lost in the spring bustle and tacked onto a never-ending task list is the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania First Year Survey invitation sent through email.

Sent March 11, from Provost Robert Graham, the email asked freshmen to complete the 37-question survey “to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses to the institution’s educational and curricular programs.”

“The voluntary survey gives students an opportunity to voice their approval or disapproval about their freshman experience,” said Graham.

According to Graham, survey participation varies, but he stated online surveys generally receive fewer responses.

“If they choose not to participate, yes, it saves them a few minutes,” said Graham. “But it doesn’t help the institution.”

Graham felt failure to complete the survey also negatively affected the student population.

“It doesn’t help it to be a better place,” he said.

“Not only for the student who doesn’t respond, but also for students coming in future years.”

Freshman psychology major Jenna Schmiedel did not know about the survey. She said she would have participated sooner if the survey was better publicized.

“If it was that important, if they really wanted

you to know, I feel like I would’ve heard about it,” said Schmiedel.

Loni Gibson, a freshman nursing major, knows about the survey but does not plan on taking it. Gibson stated she might have completed the survey if there were some sort of incentive. They are considering incentives, according to Graham.

“Survey results are shared with the Institutional Assessment Committee, departments and other areas of the university that can make proper use of the information,” said Graham. “There really is an assessment process. We try to review and make changes, particularly as we’re thinking about future directions for the institution, or if we find out there’s a particular program or course or some aspect of what we’re doing that’s not working well.”

Students’ individual responses are not seen, according to Graham.

Only aggregate information is viewed so student privacy is protected.

“We will be able to assess how we’re doing with our freshmen students,” said Graham.

“What are the areas that are really doing well?

What are areas where we need to focus more attention? We want to make sure this is the very best experience possible for our incoming students.”

Results from the survey can be compared with those of 24 other institutions that are members of the AICUP, according to Graham. Through the other AICUP participants, the University observes which problems are universal and which are specific to the campus.

“I hope students take it seriously and give us a few minutes to take this survey,” said Graham.

Youth learn to be heroes Continued from A1 area-wide youth, middle school and high school age, and give them a daylong experience that is a mix of games and workshops that are all aimed at helping them think more carefully about what it means to be a follower of Jesus,” said Ribar.

Maranda Roach, from the First Baptist Church, and Nicole Conaway, from West Waynesburg Jesus Distributor, participated in Youth Day. “I loved everything about it and I learned that God made us all super heroes,” Conaway said.

“The atmosphere was relaxed and I really enjoyed meeting all the new people.”

This event established bridges between denominations and traditions, as well as giving the youth an opportunity to make new friends and connect with old ones.

“I would love to attend Youth Day again because it’s so easy to connect with people here, and everyone who came loves God,” Roach said.

One goal of this event

Consider grad school Continued from A3 eight-week sessions.

Some of the courses are entirely online.

Others are blended and include face-to-face instruction some weeks, while other weeks the class is online.

The remaining courses are primarily face-toface, so students get a range of exposures, Clarke said.

“We really believe that if individuals want to advance their knowledge in teaching, they need the opportunity for face-to-face [interaction] and to see the good teaching skills modeled

Photo by Lisa Jaeger

A Youth Day participant climbs through the obstacle course as senior Kyle Kooyers, dressed as Optimus Prime, watches. Youth Day was held last weekend. was to provide an environment for making new friends and exploring identity.

“Our hope was that they leave with a deeper sense of God’s calling on their life to follow Jesus and what that means,” said Ribar.

“If they came not quite sure about what the Christian faith is about, that they heard the Gospel and they’re going to see Jesus and who Jesus is and also what it means to trust in him and follow him in a fresh light,”

Ribar said.

Jordan Merenick, a junior creative writing major, helped coordinate as well as participated in Youth Day. “Youth Day consists of an all day event which is designed to bring the kids closer to God or to introduce them to the saving love of Jesus,” Merenick said.

The students that helped coordinate the event set up the games for the gym, co-led workshops, led the games and bonded with their group

of youth. The workshops discussed the ways to become a hero using the talents God has bestowed upon the youth involved.

It helped remind the kids of God’s love for all of them and the endless possibilities of that love.

The day consisted of interactive games in both gyms, two sessions that allowed University students to talk to the teens for 45 minutes, a sermon

by Ribar, a concert by Es.Oh.West and worship to open and close the event.

by teachers,” she said.

The most successful parts of the education programs are the University’s ability to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and offer a program that meets the needs of adult students, said Dave Mariner, assistant dean of GAPS. Mariner said that a program in education allowing students to complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years is becoming an option for many students.

“Consider continuing education as soon as possible,” Mariner said.

“Education is lifelong.

Sooner or later people will need an advanced degree, especially in education.”

Conference helps students

Hayes of Bloomberg Television.

She works with the business report at the university and would like to hear Hayes speak about her work with business reports at the national level.

Chairman of the Business Department Dr. Gordon McClung said he was excited for the opportunity for the students.

“It is a great opportunity for students to get exposure to prominent national and international speaker in the area of finance,” McClung said.

“It also helps in terms of having our students engaged with students from other universities interested in finance.”

The two-and-a-halfday conference will bring together top names in the business world and students looking to gain the knowledge and experience to get ahead in their career.

Continued from A3 been major highlights for this conference.

Mikkilineni says she is excited for opportunities the conference will give her.

“It would be great to put in your resume because there is so many big names coming in to talk to us,” said Mikkilineni.

“I’m hoping to get a little experience, think about the situation right now and hopefully come back to use those concepts with our club.”

The conference will be broken down into different seminars and programs so that students and professionals are able to choose the one that appeals to them.

Mikkilineni said she was excited for Keynote Speaker Kathleen

Guest columnist Natalie Bruzda talks about the job hunt many seniors are on.

Read more on B2

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Recognizing 50 years of reading and service in Greene County McCracken Pharmacy family-owned, operated since 1961 Flenniken Public Library celebrates

By Stephanie Laing Editorial Assistant A pharmacy that prioritizes customer care, McCracken Pharmacy Inc. has treated 50 of its customers to $50 gas cards to Sheetz.

Celebrating 50 years in Waynesburg, McCracken Pharmacy drew numbers to select the winners Tuesday morning, March 15.

The winners of the gas cards stopped by the pharmacy and picked up their prizes at their convenience.

“It was just a chance to visit, hear a lot of stories and thank Waynesburg for supporting us for the last 50 years,” said Jeff McCracken, owner of McCracken Pharmacy Inc. “I got to hear a lot of stories about my dad,” McCracken said. “He passed away two years

ago.”

Jeff McCracken’s father, Jack McCracken, started the pharmacy, which remained familyowned and operated after he died.

Along with Jeff McCracken, his brother Jack McCracken has worked with the pharmacy for about 30 years, running all the deliveries for the pharmacy.

Jeff McCracken’s daughter, Elissa, is currently in her second year in pharmacy school at Ohio Northern University, where both her father and grandfather attended school.

Jeff McCracken expressed concerns for the future of independent pharmacies such as McCracken Pharmacy as changes in American health care continue.

“I just hope that with the changes in health care that there will still

past, present, future of reading

By Natalie Bruzda Social Media Manager

Photo by Gregory Reinhart

McCracken Pharmacy has been a major presence in Waynesburg since its opening in 1961. be a place for the independent pharmacist,” he said.

As mail-order pharmacy prescriptions have increased, Jeff McCrack-

en considers them his main competition.

“A lot of people are forced to use mail order See PHARMACY on B4

For 50 years Flenniken Library has served the Carmichaels community. During National Library Week, April 10 to 13, the library will celebrate its past, present and future with the community.

“We’ve been able to provide literacy, education, information, recreation, materials and services for 50 years,” Library Director and CEO Linda Orsted said.

Although Flenniken Library is celebrating its 50-year anniversary, the library has actually served the community since 1946.

In 1946, the library opened as a one room, volunteer-led reading center in a part of the local bank. It was not

until 1961 that the library was able to move into its own quarters, following a donation by Earl Flenniken in memorial to his parents, William and Mary Flenniken.

“I’m not sure what the collection size was at the beginning, but it wasn’t a lot,” Orsted said. “But by 1961 everything had been moved into the library and the doors were opened.”

Currently, the library houses 3,500 square feet of usable space. But according to Orsted, that is not sufficient.

“According to the studies that show our community’s population, we need at least 10,000 to 12,000 feet to properly serve the comSee LIBRARY on B4

Marcellus Fund grants help ease concerns of contaminated water

By Sierra Shafer Op/Ed Editor The Marcellus Environmental Fund has given away $900,000 in the first round of grants.

The fund established this past December was founded to bring attention to the environmental impact of drilling for Marcellus Shale in western Pennsylvania.

The Colcom Foundation based out of Pittsburgh is the creator and sponsor of the fund and intends the grant money to be used to conservation and environmental projects that will help to sustain the environment and current living standards.

“It is great for the Foundation to see enthusiasm by volunteers,” said John Rohe, vice president of philanthropy at the Colcom Foun-

dation. “We are fortunate this area has a number of organizations and individuals who are very willing to volunteer their time.”

Much of the volunteered time Rohe is referring to includes time spent monitoring the affects of Marcellus Shale, then doing more extensive research in order to provide education about the process.

According to Rohe, the Foundation established the Marcellus Environmental Fund with that hopes that the Marcellus shale drilling industry would operate with high levels of integrity and responsibility.

“Our intention has always been to understand the risks and quantify the risks,” Rohe said.

Photo by Amanda Rice

40 years young

The Greene County Historical society celebrated its 40th anniversary on Sunday with a dinner dance and wine See FUND on B4 tasting. Members were able to sample wines from local wineries as the Beaver Bop Cats band performed on stage.

Critz visits Waynesburg, hears students’ financial concerns

By Rachel Brown and Kaitlin Edwards Yellow Jacket Staff Waynesburg University freshman Juliann Hudak knew college would be expensive.

That’s why she chose Waynesburg University.

The combination of the lower tuition and financial aid helped to sway her decision.

In addition to loans

and other scholarships she received for her good grades, Hudak also receives federal grant money, including the Pell Grant.

“The Pell Grant is an important part of my education,” Hudak said.

“By the time I get out of here, I’m going to have over $20,000 in debt.

The Pell Grant is just a few thousand dollars every year that I won’t have to pay, that is the

government helping me get through college and the government helping me to have a future.”

However, that money may not be there next year if the Senate approves a spending resolution already adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The resolution would cut $176 million in funding from Pennsylvania and $5.7 billion nationwide.

Currently, students can receive a maximum of $5,550 from Pell Grants, which are needbased grants awarded to low-income undergraduate students.

Students could see as much as $785 disappear from their federal funding if the cuts are adopted.

One local congressman visited Washington and Jefferson College and Waynesburg Univer-

sity Monday to learn how the cuts would impact students.

“This is an issue with the Pell Grants that I wanted to discuss with real students to see what the impact was for them personally,” U.S. Rep. Mark Critz (D-12) said. “[I want to] use that to extrapolate what I support going forward and how I argue and debate the protection of the Pell Grant program.”

Critz spent an hour with students at each school, listening to their stories.

Approximately 15 students attended the informal session at Waynesburg University, identifying how Pell Grants helped them to afford college.

“Everyone has their individual stories, but there’s enough individuSee CRITZ on B4

YELLOW JACKET

Page B2

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Editorial

Bad-news budget Is it that hard to make good movies?

Federal budget cuts bad for education On Tuesday, the Obama administration began offering competitive grants to help states increase their college completion rates.

A $20 million Comprehensive Grant Program, a $123 million initiative to hold down tuition, increase completion rates and graduate students faster and $50 million College Completion Grants are all part of the administration’s plans to further their goal.

The campaign aims to provide incentives to schools who implement reforms that help the administration meet its goal of eight million new college graduates by 2020. The Obama administration may have good intentions by implementing this program, but all they are doing is further hindering the students who receive financial aid.

Especially students who attend the 14 schools in the State System of Higher Education, who are already looking at a 50 percent cut in funding thanks to Governor Corbett’s budget proposal.

It is fiscally irresponsible to cut financial aid money from students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend college, yet give colleges more money as incentives to graduate more students.

What the Obama administration needs to do is take the money that they put into the incentives program and build it back into FAFSA. The money they are setting aside would be able to cover about two thirds of Pennsylvania’s Pell Grants.

This would help a lot of students out, enabling them to continue furthering their educations. This would also help President Obama’s administration to hopefully meet their goal by the year 2020.

Charter Day Why we celebrate and reflect Charter Day chicken.

It comes once a year, every year.

And we welcome it, along with the silver serving trays, the white tablecloths, the floral arrangements and of course, the pastel-colored cloth napkins.

It’s a lunch to be savored, because it won’t come around again.

Until next year. But when it does, we’ll celebrate again and have Charter Day chicken again.

But why the celebration?

What is Charter Day? This year, Charter Day commemorated the 161st anniversary of the establishment of Waynesburg University as an institution of higher education.

So cheers to another year and the strides we’ve made. Charter Day is a chance to step back and look at where Waynesburg University has been, where it is headed, and this year – at the new steeple.

In your time at Waynesburg, you will have four chances to enjoy Charter Day chicken. Four chances to celebrate and reflect.

And the spring after you graduate, when you start to get a hankering for the delicious, celebratory meal, that will also be a great time for you to make your first alumni donation, propelling our institution forward through another year.

And to more chicken.

“Hey guys, watch this!”

Standing outside the mall, I looked over the edge of the wall I was standing on, about to perform my greatest feat ever (or at least so I thought).

It would be a Jackie Chan reenactment that was so epic my audience (my sisters, really) would never be able to ever forget.

The stunt was to be so dramatic that there was no way I could fail and nothing could stop me.

And then there was the ice.

The ice I couldn’t see.

KAITLIN EDWARDS Columnist

Nor could I envision the harmful effects that that little patch of ice would have upon my wellbeing.

The patch of frozen water that ruined my performance (one guess at how this ended).

Needless to say, I ended up looking slightly less than heroic, but at least my sisters got a good laugh.

I will openly admit that I may have failed

Even classes outside major worthwhile There’s always that one class.

It’s not in your major—or maybe it is. It certainly doesn’t interest you.

You’re not quite sure why you’re taking it, just that you had a hole in your schedule.

Perhaps your adviser recommended it, and you somehow found yourself agreeing because it was a nice day outside and

more than once at pulling off what would have been an incredibly cool stunt if gravity hadn’t interfered.

“Hey guys, watch this!”

Famous last words from infamous people who are about to do something incredibly stupid.

This phrase is typically followed by a trip to the emergency room or some other health-care professional.

Although almost every time (sometimes I manage to pull off something really extraordinary) I end up looking

RACHEL BROWN Columnist

you wanted to leave so you could throw a Frisbee with your friends.

But somehow, you find yourself attending that class on the first day of the new semester.

And, surprise, surprise, you still don’t like it, but you try anyway.

You complain about the class during the entire semester. Your roommate begins to hate the class as well.

The work makes you feel like

less than exceptional when I try to imitate stunts from movies, other people have the ability to pull off interesting stunts.

Which leads to my next question…

“How hard can it be?”

This is exactly what someone was thinking when they decided to reenact the house being carried away by balloons in the movie “Up.” Three hundred huge helium balloons and a custom built house later, the house not only left the ground, but floated See CONTENT on B3

you’re banging your head against a brick wall.

You’re trying, but nothing seems to make sense, nothing seems to work.

Tutoring, asking the professor for advice: You’ve tried that.

The class content still seems to be beyond comprehension.

So the class ends. Maybe you got a C. Maybe a B. Hopefully an A. But you never know.

What matters is the class is over.

You never have to think about the class again, never have to spend another minute on a worksheet, never have to See BEING on B3

Fearlessly embracing the job market School is my thing.

It was my thing in fifth grade, in high school and in my freshman year of college.

School is still my thing now, even as I am preparing for graduation.

I’m good at school.

School and I go way back.

I’ve been in some sort of classroom for the past 17 years, and in those 17 years, I’ve excelled.

But pretty soon, in less than two months to be exact, I’ll be leaving my good old buddy behind.

NATALIE BRUZDA Guest Columnist

Frankly, I’m scared.

School is all I’ve ever known. I kind of wish I could stay in school forever.

At my high school commencement, my fellow senior class members spoke of the “real world,” and how the class of 2007 was about to embark on a new journey.

But I’d like to clarify

something, and if any high school seniors are reading this, I hate to burst your bubble: college is not the real world.

College is school. And as I already established, school is my thing, therefore, college and I got along great.

But now, I need to trade my old friend in for a new one: the job force.

Yes, ladies and gents of the 2011 graduating class, it’s time to get a job.

Unless of course you’re going to grad

school, which, in that case, school is still your friend.

Last week I heard my very first positive response from a potential employer and if you were anywhere near me when I read the email, you might have thought I won the lottery.

Don’t get too excited yet.

No, I was not offered the position, the position, unfortunately, had already been filled.

But I was told that I See BEATING on B3

YELLOW JACKET

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Page B3

Op-Ed

Content suffering Continued from B2

NCAA athletes must win in classroom, too The 68-team NCAA men’s basketball tourney just got under way.

But teams have already unofficially competed in another tourney. Those results are in, and they are sobering. A good number of the athletes attending tournament schools often dazzle on the court but founder in the classroom. Far too many never graduate.

That’s what The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida found in a study released Monday.

The annual report is called “Keeping Score When it Counts: Graduation Success and Academic Progress Rates for the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Teams.”

The study examines the graduation success rates and academic progress rates for teams as reported by the NCAA. The graduation rate is based on the four-year class average of entering freshmen from 20002001 to 2003-2004, and the academic progress rate is based on four-year data from 2005-2006 to

2008-2009. So these numbers are not specific to this year’s players. But a decade of these studies show continuing problems.

This year’s results do as well, though improvements are evident, too.

The schools in the men’s tourney graduated 66 percent of their basketball student athletes, up 2 percentage points from last year’s study.

But this big problem remains.

The graduation rate for white players is much higher than the rate for black players _ and the gap is widening.

White players show a 91 percent graduation rate, up 7 percentage points from the 2010 study. Black players’ 59 percent graduation rate was up just 3 percentage points. This is the third straight year the gap has increased.

In a sport dominated by black players, that should be troubling, especially to those who love the sport. “It is a staggering gap,” said Richard Lapchik, the institute director and primary author of the

study. Fifty-four percent of the teams studied had a gap of at least 30 percentage points or more between the graduation rates of white and black athletes.

The good news is that black male basketball players have higher graduation rates than black male students overall.

The rate for black male students as a whole is just 38 percent.

That’s abominable.

But that doesn’t make the basketball players’ graduation any more palatable. Schools have to do more to help these students succeed academically. Some schools already have the recipes for success.

Twelve of these NCAA schools have high grad rates for their male basketball students, regardless of race.

Among those with 90 percent or better rates are Notre Dame, Villanova, Wofford, Illinois, BYU, Utah State and Vanderbilt. North Carolina and Duke fared well also, with overall grad rates of 88 percent and 83 percent respectively.

Some basketball powerhouses were disappointing. UConn had a basketball grad rate for this period of a mere 31 percent (for blacks it was 25 percent; for whites, 50 percent). Kentucky’s rate was 44 percent (just 31 percent for blacks and 100 percent for whites).

Arizona came in with a 20 percent rate (14 percent for blacks, and 100 percent for whites).

Those are appalling stats. We hope schools have improved dramatically over the last couple of years. But past years’ studies illustrate that progress has been slow, and still falls short. So cheer for your team during this year’s NCAA tournament.

The athletes have worked hard to get to this elite stage. But after the tourney is over and a champion is crowned, remember there’s another competition these athletes need to win.

Many schools need to work much harder to help athletes win that one.

This editorial originally appeared in The Charlotte Observer.

For-profit schools should do better or close No doubt you’ve seen the TV commercials: Enroll in so-andso college and you, too, can find gainful employment in the lucrative whatever field.

The come-on sounds really nice. But too often it’s just that, an enticement that leaves young people strapped with a college-loan debt and very little chance of obtaining a job in their major.

Beating the odds Continued from B2 have good clips and was advised to continue to keep an eye on journalismjobs.com; the newsroom situation is “fluid,” he said.

For the first time in this annoying and frustrating thing called “job searching,” I saw a very miniature, atom-sized speck of light at the end of the tunnel.

At least I knew that someone out there, someone very far away to be exact (the newspa-

To correct that, the Obama administration has proposed new rules that hold for-profit colleges and community colleges more accountable.

Lawmakers considering this legislation must stay focused on the greater good, which is the welfare of the students, not the for-profit colleges. Federal student aid accounts for 90 percent of the revenue for for-profit col-

per was in Arizona), was reading my work. And, to top if off, he liked it.

Monday, however, called for even more celebration.

Although the editor of the newspaper in Ohio didn’t offer the position, (her reasoning: she needed the position filled immediately), she said I had excellent writing skills. She said that I have talent.

And even more importantly, she said she was going to pass along my resume to another editor at another newspaper.

So I’ve decided that even though I’m scared

leges. But the government estimates about 16 percent of forprofit programs could lose their eligibility for federal loans and grants under the new rules.

That would not be a tragedy.

Some for-profits have graduation rates below 10 percent; they should do better or close.

This editorial originally ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

of where I’m going to be and what I’m going to be doing in two months, and even though I’m scared of this big scary thing called the job market, I think that we could eventually get along great.

I’ve decided that job searching isn’t really all that bad, especially if you have talent and you market your own talent well.

I was told that out of 150 applications, you might only hear back from five and only get three interviews.

With those statistics, who wouldn’t be scared?

But, (and this is com-

ing from a girl who has worried about anything and everything her entire life), I’m not too scared anymore.

I need to approach the job market like I approached school back in kindergarten.

I need to introduce myself, and if I could shake hands and make eye contact with said job market, I would.

I need to make myself known.

I need to make my skills known. I need to show the job market that, if just given the chance, I can do it.

And hopefully, I’ll make a new friend.

for more than an hour, according to Odd News on Yahoo.

No engines, no motors, no wings – only balloons. Anyone else think this is pretty cool?

This stunt was done for a new show ironically called “How Hard Can It Be?” Although the concept is interesting, the plot of the show seems to be vaguely similar to another show called “Mythbusters.”

“Mythbusters” is a show that takes urban myths, as well as movie stunts, and tests them to see if they could ever possibly be true.

In one episode, the hosts of the show tested the James Bond-jumping-out-of-a-helicopterand-onto-a-snowtubeand-surviving-myth.

Although I think these shows can be a lot of fun and entertaining to watch, I think there needs to be more variety on the television.

Clearly I am support-

Being well rounded Continued from B2 sit through another confusing lecture.

You resolve to never talk about the class. It’s just a bad memory, waiting to be suppressed.

Go ahead, sell your books.

Help your friends sell theirs.

Move on to the next class, the next semester.

And when you’re a senior, you look for a job.

You get an interview.

Go ahead, celebrate.

Then buckle down.

Prepare.

The job description wasn’t exactly descriptive, so you prepare for anything. You don’t know what to expect, but you know you want this job.

It’s the day of the interview.

You’ve traveled a long way to get here.

You’re dressed to the nines: a nice suit, nice shoes, your portfolio in hand.

You sit in the car, staring at the door of the building.

Time for a mental pep talk.

Then another one.

Your feet seemed

ive of testing these myths, but looking at the whole range of television and movies, the amount of copy-cats are overwhelming.

I mean, how many shows can we have mimicking Steve Irwin on Animal Planet?

Seriously, one of him was more than enough.

Even with romantic comedies, everything is so predictable.

A couple of days ago, a some people were discussing the movie, “No Strings Attached” and they were discussing how they wished the movie had ended differently just so it would not have been so predictable.

And Jersey Shore – well, don’t even get me started with that show.

With some of the most creative people and skilled writers working in this industry, you would think they could be a little more creative with what they put on air.

It’s time they start making movies with a little more pizzazz.

Coming up with new shows - “How hard can it be?”

Apparently very.

glued to the floor.

Finally, your hand reaches for the car door and you step outside.

It’s raining, and your umbrella is how many miles away at home.

Whoops.

You walk into the building, but you can’t forget that missing umbrella.

You introduce yourself and wait to be called into the interview room, prepared for anything.

So the interview starts.

Your interviewer asks for your résumé, so you hand it over, hoping she doesn’t notice that your hand is shaking from the nerves.

It’s silent as she reads.

Your thoughts race: Should you say something?

Finally, she smiles.

“Grant writing?” she asks.

You nod, wary of the implications.

“You know this is a grant writing position, right?” she continues.

Your breath catches.

Your heart skips.

That class.

That class you took and thought you’d never use again. That class you tried to forget.

That class might just get you a job.

YELLOW JACKET

Page B4

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Region

Library hits 50 year mark Continued from B1 munity,” she said. “As it is now, the library is much too small. It’s not adequate for modern library services.”

By holding a week long celebration, Orsted hopes to raise awareness, with an open house on April 13.

“We need to raise

Pharmacy celebrates Continued from B1 now,” he said. “I don’t want people coming through my store that don’t want to come here, but I think people should be given the choice on who they want to use for their pharmacist.”

According to the owner, McCracken Pharmacy has provided the best customer care and employed technology to remain competitive and successful.

“I would think that probably we have utilized technology as

awareness,” she said.

“By getting people into the building, especially people that haven’t visited the building lately, we will be able to show the services that we offer and what we can do with more space.”

On April 13, the library will provide pamphlets with information on the library itself, as well as refreshments, giveaways and door prizes.

“We want it to be a

much as we possibly can for filling prescription [in the last 50 years],” said Jeff McCracken.

The pharmacy has continued to work at providing the best service to its customers, he said. “[We’ve improved] through years and years of practice, experience and relying on the things my dad taught me about how to always treat the customer right,” said McCracken.

Because of his father’s lessons, Jeff McCracken has kept customer service as his number one priority.

“The customer is not always right, but usually is,” said Jeff McCracken.

big open house celebration,” Orsted said.

Orsted, who has been with the library since

2004, envisions a bright future for Flenniken Library.

“We want Flenniken Library to be the go-to library for the area,” she said. “Our theme for the week is going to be ‘Libraries: The heart of every community.’

When people need something they will think of the library as the place to find the answers.”

The most effective way she can make this

Fund eases concerns

active natural gas driller, Chesapeake Energy Corporation.

This natural gas is harnessed by drilling down as deep as 7,000 feet into the rock and is then distributed as a fuel source for both residential and commercial use.

Yet as this new trend in fuel extraction is propelling the local economy forward, some are concerned with the environmental impacts of the drilling, namely concerning water quality.

“Bromide seems to be

liberated by Marcellus shale drilling,” said Rohe. “When bromide finds its way into rivers and streams it will eventually make its way into our water system. This is one of the risks we’re looking at.”

If bromide mixes with purified drinking water it can form a carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, mixture, said Rohe.

The grant money awarded by the Environmental Fund will help to ease some of the concerns of environmental-

ists and local citizens as well as lessen the impact to the local environment. The Colcom Foundation stated in a press release early this month that the grant requests demonstrated a particular need for water quality monitoring.

Conservation groups and volunteers have been organizing themselves to track toxins in local water. Of the twelve groups who received grant funding, one third are focused strictly on water quality.

“So not only are they talking about themselves, they’re talking about people across this nation.”

Multiple students mentioned that they were responsible for paying for college on their own, were one of at least 10 children or were working three jobs to

make ends meet.

“When you have people who may not get to go to school because of their financial wellbeing, that’s not right,” he said. “That’s not what this country is built on.”

Hudak, who attended the session, is one of 670 Waynesburg students affected by the cuts.

“I feel like they are decreasing the equality of education if they decrease the amount of money available,” she said.

Hudak shared her experiences with Critz, saying she hopes the government will increase Pell Grant funding instead of cutting it.

Photo courtesy of Linda Orsted

The William F. and Mary A. Flenniken Library in Carmichaels has served Greene County for 50 years.

Continued from B1 “This way we can assure the future does not have to suffer the costs.”

The Marcellus Shale is a geologic formation of sedimentary rock stretching primarily across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia that contains natural gas, as defined by the most

Critz visits campus Continued from B1 als that are very similar,” said Critz, who benefited from Pell Grants as undergraduate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

happen is by adding more square feet; however, the task before her is a difficult one.

Flenniken Library is currently in a building that used to be a home.

“We need space that is designed especially to be a library,” she said.

“A home is not designed to be library.

We have to work around it, and we don’t have the room and we have rooms that are not usable.”

Men’s tennis shuts out Geneva after long layoff.

Read more on C4

Thursday, March 24, 2011 M - 17, J -9 J What Shepas breaks single-game goals mark 15-1, 14-4 to watch Senior also becomes Softball school’s all-time for this leading scorer in loss cruises spring EDAILLE

ACKETS

ACKETS WIN

By Steve Hullings Staff Writer

Dave Floyd Sports Editor

In a little more than a week from now, every spring sport at Waynesburg University will be underway. With the spring sports season heating up, here’s the top three storylines to watch for the rest of March, April and May. 3. Zacoi in charge In its fourth season of existence, the women’s lacrosse program finally boasts a head coach with quality experience in the sport. Tom Zacoi comes to Waynesburg after guiding Chartiers Valley High School to its first WPIAL playoff appearance in school history.

Zacoi faces the tough task of turning a program around that went a combined 3-26 in its first three seasons. While the situation appears bleak, Zacoi’s squad returns numerous players from last year, welcomes back a legitimate offensive threat in Maria Shepas and is bringing in at least one freshman, goalie Kelsey Schlieper, who has significant experience in the sport.

Although the team’s first four results in 2011 were all losses, give Zacoi some time, and that win total should eventually begin to rise.

2. On the diamond With each squad returning six position starters, both the baseball and softball teams look to make it back to the PAC playoffs after missing out in 2010.

The baseball team nearly qualified for the league tournament a season ago, but a tie-breaker gave the fourth and final spot to Westminster. Offensively, key pieces such as center fielder Rob Cool Jr., infielder Corey Goeggelman, shortstop Anthony Defilippo and catcher Brendan Scioscia are back.

However, the team will have to deal with the loss of all-everything second baseman Wes White Jr., who meant so much to the team in so many different facets of the game.

Up to this point, the Jackets have struggled to deal with White’s loss and others on offense. The team batting average has dropped well below last year’s total, and Waynesburg’s overall record sits at 2-10.

As always, though, the success of the season will

Senior midfielder Maria Shepas played perhaps the best game of her career this past Saturday, as the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets took on the Medaille Mavericks at John F. Wiley Stadium. Shepas scored seven of the Jackets’ nine goals, breaking a single game program record.

Photo by Dave Miller, ADM Photography

Senior midfielder Maria Shepas tries to shake two defenders loose Saturday against Medaille.

Her performance also made her the program’s all-time leader in both

goals and points.

Not only was this a huge stepping-stone for

Shepas, but for the women’s lacrosse program as well. Despite the 17-9 loss, the Jackets (0-4) set a new program record for goals in a game.

Medaille (1-1) came out hot, scoring two goals, but Shepas’ first goal pulled the Jackets to within one with 16:14 left in the first half.

However, the Jackets were outscored 8-3 the rest of the half, with sophomore Molly Kramer of Waynesburg adding to the Jackets’ list of scorers.

Down by 12, the Jack-

to sweep

By Aaron Thompson Assistant Sports Editor

After having two doubleheaders postponed this past week, the Waynesburg University softball team finally got back into game action Saturday when they traveled to See SHEPAS on C4 Greensburg to take on Pitt-Greensburg.

The Yellow Jackets (6-4) did their best to shake off any rust that may have accumulated over the past week by blasting the Bobcats (2-6) 15-1 in game one and 14-4 in game two to sweep the doubleheader.

Waynesburg head coach Lou Giachetti said that overall he was pleased with the performance and attitude of his team.

“What I like is our attitude on our team,” Giachetti said. “All 22 players have been positive and have showed great enthusiasm. Everyone knows that we’re in this together.”

The Jackets offense has been a key early on this season. The overall team batting average is .306, and the Jackets have outscored their opponents 57-28 through the first 10 games.

Waynesburg’s offense features seven players with batting averages over .300.

According to Giachetti, the biggest difference has been the team’s aggressive attitude at the plate.

That continued against

ALL-AMERICAN ENDING Crown’s fourth-place finish at nationals caps memorable season

By Dave Floyd Sports Editor A season laden with success recently came to a fitting end for the Waynesburg University wrestling team.

Sophomore 125-pounder Alex Crown used a fourthplace finish at nationals to garner All-American honors.

His efforts punctuated an already accolade-filled season for the Yellow Jackets that included a Presidents’ Athletic Conference team title and three wrestlers qualifying for nationals.

A No. 8 seed, Crown was upset in his opening-round match but stormed back to rattle off four straight victories and claim fourth. His finish marked the highest any PAC wrestler since 1993, and it gave the Jackets an AllAmerican for a second straight season.

“That’s what I was looking for all year,” Crown said.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to bounce back after that first match.

“Running through my head, I thought, ‘This is going to be tough; I just lost to a kid who wasn’t even ranked and I was ranked,’” Crown added. “I just knew I had to take it one match at a time to bounce back.”

See CROWN on C2

Photo by Dawn Yates

See SOFTBALL on C3

Women’s basketball ends season with ECAC title Team looks back at campaign in which they finished 21-9

By Jon Ledyard Assignments Editor

Down 11-2 to Catholic University just under four minutes into the ECAC championship game, Waynesburg women’s basketball head coach Sam Jones called timeout and huddled up with his struggling team on their home court sideline.

“To be honest I just looked at them and said, ‘Are we done? Are we ready to play focused basketball?’” said Jones.

The answer was a resounding yes.

The top-seeded Yellow Jackets stormed back from the early deficit to See SPRING’S on C4 capture their first ever

Photo courtesy of Waynesburg University Sports Information

The women’s basketball team poses after winning the 2011 ECAC South title. That victory closed the Jackets’ 2010-11 campaign at 21-9.

ECAC South title with a 67-63 victory over the second-seeded Cardinals on March 6. The win concluded a three-game run through the eight-team field in Waynesburg’s first

appearance in the ECAC tournament.

The Jackets’ run is even more impressive given the fact that they lost four of their last six games of the regular season en

route to a 21-9 overall record and a 10-6 conference record.

“I really wasn’t too concerned considering three of the four teams we lost to at the end were

nationally ranked opponents,” said Jones. “It was partly bad luck in our schedule, and then of course the bad loss to Geneva. But the girls were excited and focused on playing well in the tournament.”

The Jackets needed every bit of focus they had to bury the relentless Cardinals, who trailed by one at halftime but battled all the way down the stretch against the Jackets in the second half. In the end it was free throws that won the game for the Jackets as they went 11-for-12 from the line in the game and 6-for-6 in the last 48 seconds when Catholic was forced to foul.

“Free throw shooting was something we talked about all year – to not leave those easy points on See ECAC on C3

YELLOW JACKET

Page C2

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sports

Garber’s career concludes at nationals

In Brief TRACK AND FIELD As they prepare for the outdoor portion of their respective schedules, the Waynesburg University men’s and women’s track and field teams maintained a presence in the latest NCAA Division III Mideast Region according to d3rankings.us.

The Yellow Jacket men are currently ranked 12th, while the women, who will try to improve on last year’s second-place finish at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships, are listed at 10th.

The Jackets wrapped up the indoor portion of the 2010-11 season at Marietta and are off until March 26 when the men and women travel to Wheeling Jesuit University to take part in the Bill Van Horne Invitational – their first outdoor meet of the season.

GOLF Second-year Waynesburg head golf coach Scott Venick is seeing some definite progress in the Yellow Jacket golf programs, as they get ready for the spring season. Rosters have increased not only in size, but in experience and talent as well.

The Jacket men’s golf team opens the spring season on March 28 at the Westminster Titan Invitational, which will be held at the New Castle Country Club. The women kick their season off a week later at Westminster’s Mary Cleland Eckles Invitational.

SOCCER, WOMEN’S TENNIS The Waynesburg University men’s and women’s soccer teams, under the guidance of second-year head coach Sean McCarthy, recently released their schedules for the upcoming 2011 seasons.

The Waynesburg women’s tennis team also recently released its 2011 fall schedule for the upcoming school year.

Both schedules can be seen by going to www.waynesburgsports.com.

Crown ends up in fourth Continued from C1

Crown’s openingmatch upset came at the hands of SUNY Cortland’s Dave Colagiovanni.

A first-period takedown proved to be all Colagiovanni needed, as the unseeded fifth-year senior held on for the 2-1 win.

“It was pretty depressing and pretty upsetting also,” Crown said. “It was a close match, so just one thing could have changed it.”

Crown rebounded quickly, however, scoring

an 8-2 decision victory and then a 16-1 technical fall to secure All-American status.

In the All-American round, the Carlisle native won a thrilling 6-5 bout over Cornell College’s Timothy Hood. Down 5-4 in the third period, Crown tilted Hood from the top position to snag two nearfall points and the victory.

The sophomore may have saved his best win for his last, though. Facing fifth-seeded Riki Reynolds of Mt. Union, Crown found himself nearly pinned in the first period. Reynolds had put Crown on his back for a five-point lead. But the Jackets’ 125-pounder

Senior ends season one victory shy of All-American status

By Brandon Reed Editorial Assistant An individual career that helped build Waynesburg University’s prestigious back-to-back championship wrestling team has come to end.

Senior 141-pounder Nick Garber fell just short of All-American status this year, going out in a way much more anticlimactic than he would have hoped.

“It was an OK season,” said Garber. “I fell short, so I am disappointed.”

People have come to expect a great deal out of the Yellow Jacket wrestling team, but this was not always the case.

Since Garber was a freshman, the program has made huge strides in the right direction. Garber calling this season “OK” is just a testament to how far Waynesburg wrestling has come as a unit.

Garber was one of two wrestlers with a winning record his freshman year.

Now, he is one of 11 and had the second highest

rolled through, reversed Reynolds and notched a pin in 2:26.

“I’d never seen that happen before,” head coach Ron Headlee said.

“In the span of 10 seconds, he went from getting pinned to getting a pin.”

Crown’s run eventually ended in the third-place bout when he was overmatched by Wartburg’s Mark Kist, a sixth-year senior who had transferred from Division I powerhouse Iowa State.

Senior Nick Garber (141 pounds) and freshman Brandon Fedorka (285) also competed in the national championships in La Crosse.

ECAC title caps season Continued from C1 the table,” said Jones. “It was something we did well all season and set records for team percentage and free throws made in a season.”

Perhaps the biggest contribution for Waynesburg came from their bench, an ironic twist considering that the Jackets had only gotten eight points from their bench in the previous two games combined.

However, down the stretch sophomore Emilee Wagner and senior Malaeja Leggett came up huge when the Jackets needed them to.

Leading by just one with less than five minutes to play following a Catholic layup, Wagner scored on an open layup, was fouled in the process and knocked down the free throw to complete the three point play and extend the Jackets’ lead to four. Then with just over

Photo courtesy of Waynesburg University Sports Information

Head coach Sam Jones cuts down the nets after his team won the ECAC South title earlier this month. a minute remaining and the Jackets up 61-59, Leggett stripped the Cardinals’ Katarina Owunna of the ball and was fouled with 48 seconds left. The 44 percent free throw shooter, the Jackets’ worst by more than 10 percent, proceeded to knock down both shots to all but ice the victory for Waynes-

burg.

“Emilee’s attitude throughout the whole season whether she was starting or coming off the bench was just great,” said Jones. “She bought [to the team] what was best for the team, and without her contributions we don’t win.

“Malaeja was a phe-

Photo by Dawn Yates

Senior 141-pounder Nick Garber (top right) controls SUNY Cortland’s Aljamain Sterling at nationals earlier this month. Garber upset the third-seeded Sterling 2-1. divisional winning percentage behind sophomore All-American Alex Crown.

Garber helped build the program from the ground up, starting with his freshman year. He was the first wrestler to win a tournament in a number of years for the Jackets. He actually tore his knee during the championship match and came back to win the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title as a freshman.

During his sophomore season, the school

acquired his junior high and high school wrestling coaches, Ron Headlee and John Yates. Garber said that this helped his development a lot, and they helped him achieve his potential.

“When I went to practice I knew what to expect,” said Garber.

“I knew what coach wanted me to do, and I was able to do it and set a good example to the younger guys.”

Garber went on to qualify for nationals that season and the next, earning

All-American honors last season as a junior at 133 pounds.

Headlee, the head coach, said that it was good to have Garber in the room showing the underclassmen how to work on things.

“Nick was a big help,” said Headlee. “He knew what we wanted, and we knew how far we could push him.”

Garber’s fearless intimidation that was often recognized at matches was

Garber started off redhot by winning his first two bouts, including a pinfall and a 2-1 upset victory over third-seeded Aljamain Sterling of SUNY Cortland.

One win away from securing All-American honors for the second straight season, Garber faltered. He lost 11-2 to drop into the consolations and then saw his decorated college career come to a close with a 5-2 defeat.

“I just thought [after that win over Sterling] that things were going to go his way this weekend,” Headlee said. “But the next guy just overpowered him a little bit, and I think he got down on

himself a little bit.

“I thought [the kid he wrestled last] was a kid he matched up with well; he just never got into his match well. The kid just outwrestled him.”

Fedorka went 0-2 at the event. He was pinned in his first match by the No. 2 seed Mark Corsello of Elmhurst, who was undefeated at the time. Then, trailing just 3-2 in his second match, the freshman gave up a third-period takedown that ended his season.

As a team, Waynesburg finished 20th out of 60 teams competing in La Crosse, Wisc. Headlee cited finishing in the top 20 as one of the goals

coming in.

The national championships ended a season filled with numerous team and individual accolades for the Jackets. Waynesburg went 12-2-1 overall, swept the PAC regular season, won its second straight PAC team title, accounted for six of 10 individual PAC champs and boasted three individual winners at regionals.

“I was really happy. I thought we reached almost all our goals for the year,” Headlee said.

“We’re definitely still shooting for a national champion and our goal was to win regionals, but overall it was just a great effort by our guys.”

nomenal defender all year and does all the little things that don’t show up on the box score. It was a common theme of our team all season, for players to accept their roles and thrive in them.”

While the bench certainly deserves credit, this game, like so many of the Jackets’ contests this season came down to their starting five, and they did not disappoint. Senior forward Elisha Jones poured in 15 points to go with three blocks in her final game as a Jacket, and junior point guard Hannah Hunter led the Jackets with 15 points, four assists and seven steals.

The team co-captain also buried all four of her free throws inside the last 30 seconds to put the nails in Catholic’s coffin.

“It’s a lot of hard work that goes into a season like this,” said Hunter.

“It’s putting in extra hours and changing the mindset of losing that was here and becoming mentally tough.”

Sophomore guard Brittany Spencer notched her

second double-double of the tournament with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Jessi Drayer chipped in 15 points, five rebounds, and five steals.

As a team the Jackets forced Catholic into 24 turnovers, including snagging 19 steals. A huge part of that was Drayer, who had 17 steals throughout the ECAC tournament.

“The great thing about Jessi is she came on unassuming and worked very hard and is very talented,” said Jones. “She did whatever we asked of her, and the defensive pressure she applied really took our defense off the charts.”

For Elisha Jones, her play in the tournament sent her out in style as a Jacket, as she garnered MVP following the victory. The four-time AllPresidents’ Athletic Conference performer completed one of the best careers in program history, racking up 1,372 points to go with 621 rebounds and 150 blocked shots.

“Once we heard we had received the No. 1

seed in the tournament our first thought was to go out there and win it for Elisha,” said Hunter. “She is one of the most dedicated players on the team, and winning is a big part of who she is as a person.

Her example and focus makes everyone around her play harder.”

As a team, this season will be remembered as one of the most successful in Waynesburg history.

The Jackets improved from a nine-win season last year to 21 victories this season and won their first conference tournament game since the 2005-2006 season. The 21 victories also gave them their first 20-win season since the 1994-1995 season.

“All season long I was so proud of the effort the girls put forth,” said Jones.

“This season we were able to come back and win some close games, and that was evident in the championship game.

“It’s taken a lot of effort to change the mentality of the program, but I think we are there now.”

See CAREER on C4

YELLOW JACKET

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Page C3

Sports

Pair of Jacket seniors named Athletes of the Week On Saturday, two Waynesburg seniors excelled on the field for their respective teams. Lacrosse player Maria Shepas broke multiple team records with her seven-goal performance, while baseball player Anthony Defilippo went five-for-six in his team’s doubleheader.

By Aaron Thompson Assistant Sports Editor A pair of seniors was lauded as this week’s Yellow Jacket Athletes of the Week. Lacrosse player Maria Shepas and baseball player Anthony DeFilippo were honored for their respective athletic performances over the past week.

Shepas was the bright spot in the lacrosse team’s Saturday loss to Medaille College at John F. Wiley Stadium.

Shepas scored seven of the Yellow Jackets goals in their 17-9 defeat. The scoring tally broke the single-game program record for goals scored in a single game, and she also racked up the most total points in a single game.

Above photo by Laura Rayle, File Photo at right

(Above) Senior midfielder Maria Shepas, shown in an earlier contest, broke multiple team records Saturday.

(Right) Senior shortstop Anthony Defilippo went fivefor-six with a walk in Saturday’s doubleheader.

The seven goals bring Shepas’ total to nine on the season. She also became the school’s all-

time leader in goals and points.

The Jacket lacrosse team will be in action

today when they host Wilson College at 4:30 p.m.

Although the Waynes-

PENN STATE-BEHREND WINS 6-2, 6-4

liked what he has seen from his entire pitching staff so Continued from C1 far this season. Baughman, the the Bobcats, as Waynesteam’s top burg exploded for eight pitcher, has runs in the top of the sec- Falleroni only started ond inning in game one. two games Freshman second basein the circle man Shannon Falleroni to this got the Jackets on the point, as board with a two- run Giachetti double. Senior designated has looked player Amanda Baughto get junior man followed Falleroni Lauren with a three-run home Blackwell Minor and run to make it 5-0 Waynesburg. Senior Kristen Maier a little more experiLautenschlager and fresh- ence.

Falleroni, the Washingman right fielder Jasmine ton, Pa., native, led WayBlackwell each had RBI nesburg on the day as she walks in the inning.

UPG got on the board went five-for-seven at the when they scored their plate. She also scored only run of the game in three runs and tallied the bottom of the second seven RBIs. Baughman also came up big in the inning.

Photo by Dave Miller, ADM Photography Waynesburg got that batter’s box by going fiveJunior third baseman Tim Chilcote fires a throw to first base during Saturday’s dou- run right back in the top for-nine at the plate.

Falleroni and Blackwell of the third inning when bleheader. Chilcote had four RBIs in the two games.

Falleroni drove in another have brought an extra able to get the Jackets out open Presidents’ Athletic run. Junior third baseman punch to the top of the final score of 6-2.

Waynesburg senior of a bases loaded situation Conference play at home Sam Volponi got the big Jackets batting order. with a nine-inning game hit in the top of the fifth “It obviously shows pitcher Jesse Gonzalez got in the second.

Baumgartel threw five against Bethany. the start for the Jackets in when she smacked a you a lot about these two First pitch is scheduled three-run double. players when you can bat game two, but he allowed and one-third innings in three runs in the first relief, throwing eight for 3 p.m.

In the circle, freshman two freshman first and Waynesburg will also Carrie Maier had a strong second,” Giachetti said. “I inning. However, Way- strikeouts and allowing nesburg responded once just three hits and no take on the Bison Satur- pitching performance. She knew coming into the seaagain by tying the game at earned runs. Mental mis- day when they hit the gave up just one unearned son they would help us a three with a two-run sin- takes hindered the Jack- road and travel to run on three hits and lot.”

Giachetti said he is gle by Chilcote to right ets’ performance in the Bethany, W.Va. issued just one walk, as Saturday will be a dou- she struck out six batters. pleased so far but said the fifth inning. An error by field.

The Lions were once sophomore first baseman bleheader between the In game two, Waynes- team is trying to work on again able to grab the lead. Ty Holderbaum extended two teams. burg trailed 4-3 after three the mental part of the First pitch for that innings, but the Jackets game, specifically defense.

Penn State-Behrend post- the fifth and allowed the “I think physically we ed two runs on two hits in Lions to pull off a double- twinbill is set for 1 p.m. went ahead for good in the the second inning, send- steal to make it 6-3. Senfourth inning when they are as good as anybody, ing Gonzalez to an early ior right fielder Bill Spina’s Team Leaders: pushed three runs across but I think when we get exit. Junior Rob Baumgar- sacrifice groundout in the the plate. Blackwell and into conference play that tel entered the game in bottom of the sixth was Average Falleroni both scorched the mental part of the relief of Gonzalez. In only not enough, and the game RBI doubles as the Jackets game will be key.”

Defilippo (.375) Waynesburg will look his fourth appearance the ended with a score of 6-4. Home runs went ahead of the Bobcats Defilippo went fourseason, he kept the Jack6-4. After that it was all to keep that offense going Defilippo (3) ets in the game and was for-four with a double in RBIs Waynesburg as the Jackets Saturday against Carlow game two. scored eight more runs to in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Two tied with 7 Defilippo went five-for- ERA (min. 8 IP) bring the total to 11 unansix total with a walk in swered. Sophomore Lizz Team Leaders: Kreke (2.08) the doubleheader. Wins Bombara highlighted the Chilcote’s four RBI was offense by knocking a Average Two tied with 1 the highest total for any Innings pitched pitch over the fence for a Pivik (.423) Waynesburg hitter. two-run home run.

Longo (24.0) Home runs The Jackets will try to Strikeouts Junior Lauren Minor Three tied with 1 rebound Friday when they worked the first three RBIs Baumgartel (15) frames to pick up the vicFalleroni (12) tory. She allowed just one ERA earned run on five hits Baughman (1.40) while walking none.

Wins Baughman came on to Minor (3) pitch three scoreless Innings pitched innings for her second Baughman (25.2) save of the season.

Strikeouts Giachetti said he has Baughman (32)

Baseball team swept in doubleheader Offense struggles again in squad’s 10th straight loss

By Nate Regotti Staff Writer The Waynesburg University baseball team dropped two home games to the Penn State-Behrend Lions this past weekend, 6-2 and 6-4.

In the first game, the Lions (7-3) scored three runs in the first two innings off Jacket starting pitcher sophomore Anthony Longo. Longo left the mound after four innings. He surrendered five runs on eight hits, walked two batters and struck out one.

The Yellow Jackets (210) eventually got something going at the plate during the fourth inning.

Senior shortstop Anthony DeFilippo took a pitch to the elbow. Junior designated hitter Noah Pust followed with a wellplaced bunt down the third-base line and beat out the throw to first base.

DeFilippo was able to advance safely to second.

Following two quick outs, junior third baseman Tim Chilcote smacked a base hit to right field to score Pust and DeFilippo to make the game 5-2.

The Jackets did not produce much more offense at the plate. Lions closer Chad Zurat pitched lights out, throwing two innings without giving up any hits to earn the save with a

burg University baseball team is suffering from a 10-game losing streak, that does not mean that

DeFilippo hasn’t been performing well for the team.

The Mount Lebanon native leads the team in the main three offensive categories, with a .375 batting average, three home runs and seven runs driven in.

DeFilippo went fivefor-six with a walk in the doubleheader Saturday against Penn StateBehrend.

The Jackets will try to get back on track when they begin conference play Friday by hosting rival Bethany College.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Waynesburg Field.

They will also take on the Bison Saturday at Bethany in a doubleheader, which will get underway at 1 p.m.

Softball sweeps UPG

YELLOW JACKET

Page C4

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sports

JACKETS - 9, GENEVA - 0

Jackets return to action with shutout Waynesburg wins first men’s match at new facility

whole bunch until this last week and this match,” Mally said. “I think we’ve pretty much picked up where we left off last season just working well together and getting wins.”

Jacket sophomores Jason Logan and Jon Anderson teamed up at second doubles to score an 8-3 victory over the Golden Tornadoes duo of Matt Davis and Jordan Hillwig.

With only five players, Geneva was forced to forfeit the number-three doubles match. Waynesburg freshman Nate Huffman and sophomore Joe Kromer were the beneficiaries, picking up the win by default.

Christman was pleased with how his team started off the match.

“I feel because we work

on doubles as much as we do, and the technique of doubles, we’re going to come out and start most matches pretty strong,” Christman said. “We’ve had matches where our number-one doubles team will win, and then we’ll lose in singles at both one and two because the guys know how to play together at doubles who do it.”

In singles play, the Jackets made quick work of the Golden Tornadoes, with all five Waynesburg players in action notching two-set victories.

At first singles, Mally bested Witt 6-3, 6-4 in the day’s closest match, coming back from 4-2 down in the final set.

“I started off pretty strong, and I took the first set pretty easily,” Mally said. “He started to play a

lot better in the second set, and maybe I underestimated him a little bit, but I turned it around. I turned it up, and it ended up being a good win for me.”

Khoury took down Miller 6-0, 6-2 at numbertwo, Logan defeated Davis 6-2, 6-4 at number-three and Anderson topped Hillwig 6-0, 6-1 at number-four.

Huffman picked up his first competitive collegiate win (excluding his forfeit victory earlier in the match) at fifth singles, defeating Jared Hartzel 60, 6-0.

At sixth singles, Kromer garnered another win by default.

According to Christman, the Jackets utilized a lot of what they had worked on during the long layoff.

“Footwork, return of serve, smart play at the net and doubles – that’s what we put our time into the last several weeks,” Christman said. “And it showed.”

As a team, the Jackets evened their record at 1-1 on the year with Saturday’s triumph. They looked to notch win No. 2 Wednesday at Marietta.

Results were unavailable at press time.

Waynesburg’s next match is at home today against Pitt-Greensburg.

The match is set to begin at 3 p.m.

one so aggressive,” said Headlee. “He wasn’t intimidated by anybody.”

On the final day of this season’s York Duals, Garber faced Chris Albright, one of the best wrestlers in the PAC, and won by decision, 5-3.

“Nick was great,” said

Headlee. “I saw him beat the Albright boy, and that was on one of his off days.”

Headlee said that Garber prepared very well before each match, saying that he knew how to get ready and just did it when he needed to.

Garber said that he hopes to wrestle one last time, at the University Nationals. Wrestlers from all divisions are allowed to compete, and the top two get invited to try out for the Olympic team.

“It is a good way for our boys to get a sense of real-

By Dave Floyd Sports Editor In its first match at its new six-court facility, the Waynesburg University men’s tennis team scored a shutout victory Saturday over Geneva College.

The 9-0 triumph ended a month-long layoff for the Yellow Jackets, who opened their season March 19 with an 8-1 loss to Penn State-Behrend and had not played since.

“The guys, for the most part, played smart tennis,” head coach Ron Christman said. “[That] makes me feel good because they were doing some of the things we’ve been working on. In several cases, [though], we didn’t get pushed real hard. “[And] we love our new facility; those courts are so nice to play on,” Christman added. “It’s a huge plus having those.”

The Jackets started quickly, racing out to a 30 lead after doubles play.

At first doubles, the Waynesburg tandem of junior Peter Mally and senior Emile Khoury defeated Geneva’s David Witt and Caleb Miller 8-2.

“Emile and I have played really, really well for not having played a

Career ends for Garber Continued from C2 evident to his coach as well.

“I’ve never seen some-

File Photo

Junior Peter Mally scored his first two victories of the season this past Saturday in the Jackets’ 9-0 win.

Spring’s top storylines Continued from C1 depend a great deal on the quality of pitching. Experienced starters Jesse Gonzalez, Tim Knight and Anthony Longo return, and what they can do on the mound will go a long way in determining whether or not the Jackets can get over that playoff hunt.

Unlike the baseball team, the softball team returns its top player in pitcher/infielder Amanda Baughman. She’s a big reason for any optimism surrounding the squad in 2011, but it’s Baughman’s supporting cast who will determine whether or not the Jackets can make it back to the PAC playoffs.

So far, those other players are performing well, as Waynesburg currently sports a 6-4 record overall.

1. Taking the next steps After a second-place finish in the Presidents’

Shepas sets new record

Athletic Conference team championships a season ago, the women’s track and field team looks to take the next step as a program in 2011.

With a ton of talent coming back and a strong recruiting class, another PAC title for Waynesburg sports is a real possibly.

The returners must continue to improve and those promising freshman must pan out, but if they do, the Jackets can add another trophy to their cases.

Plus, keep an eye on a few individuals. Elisha Jones and Marybeth Rocco advanced to nationals in the javelin, Jones becoming the school’s first two-time outdoor track and field All-American. Krystal Baker also qualified for nationals in the triple jump.

Look for these three to improve on those finishes and add more All-American honors to the Waynesburg record books.

With all these storylines and more, they’ll be a lot to watch this spring.

ets found a spark and scored five unanswered goals, four by Shepas.

Sophomore Carly Smithyman also scored for Waynesburg in the second half. The goal was her

first of the season.

Starting in goal for the Jackets was junior Erin Burry. She also broke a couple records of her own by recording 16 saves, a team season high and personal career high.

Waynesburg looks to get its first win of the season today against the Wilson College Phoenix (0-1) at 4:30 p.m. at Wiley Stadium.

ity and realize how many other great wrestlers there are out there,” said Headlee.

According to Headlee, Garber had a great career at Waynesburg, and he has nothing to be ashamed of.

Headlee just hopes one

thing sticks with the younger guys from Garber’s time here.

“I hope they can find his same work ethic,” said Headlee. “He worked hard day in and day out, and I would love to see someone step up and fill his shoes.”

Continued from C1

Libya continues to cause unrest in the Middle East.

Read more on D4

Thursday, March 24, 2011

All around the world: SAB hosts Spring Week Solo

By Matt Giardina Staff Writer Every year the Student Activities Board plans a themed Spring Week full of events and foods.

This year’s Spring Week theme is “All Around the World.”

Jen Brusstar, the vice president of SAB and a senior biology major said, “Spring Week and homecoming week are both operated by the festive events committee.”

The SAB encountered

Photo by Lisa Jaeger

On Monday night, students learned to fiesta dance in the Beehive as part of spring week activities. little to no problems during the setup for Spring

By Brandon Reed Editorial Assistant It’s that time of year again for photographers all around campus to show Waynesburg off to the rest of the world.

For its third year, the “Show Me Waynesburg” photo contest will be held on campus. It has continued to grow since its inception in 2009.

Director of Admissions, Sarah Zwinger, is in charge of the contest.

The photos chosen are used as promotional material for the university.

Many of the pictures used for the advertisements are recycled from previous years, but a few pictures are used

Spring Week.

“The festive events committee came up with the idea last spring,” Brusstar said.

“Danielle Brush [senior psychology major] was studying abroad the semester before and the general idea for Spring Week came from her stories. By Hope Frick We then brought our Staff Writer Spring Week idea up this past fall.”

Musician Jason LeVBecause of the “All asseur returned to Waynesburg University this See SAB on D2 week to perform with band mate, Jerry Chapman. LeVasseur and Chapman, both singers and song writers, performed for a small crowd Thursday night in Alumni Hall at 8:00 pm. The Student Activities Board sponsored the event.

While Thursday’s show For some it was the first time they have been was not Lavasseur’s first to a rainforest, said Paladi- Waynesburg experience, it no. Kids wrote and drew was the first time Life in pictures about their time General has performed at Waynesburg. During the at the conservation. two-hour performance, “Not only can you the duo performed 10 see creation; you have to experience creation,” songs that featured guitar, Paladino said. mandolin, harmonica, The team also climbed drums and bongos. In between songs, LeVasseur two volcanoes.

“You felt a big accom- and Chapman joked plishment when you around with the audience, reached the top,” Paladino something audience member Lauren Friday, a sophosaid.

For the third year, more social work and Richard “Skip” Noftzger, counseling major, enjoyed.

“They were really comsenior vice president for ical,” Friday said. “I See WU on D3 thought they really connected with the audience.”

Freshman nursing major Elyse Matt also enjoyed the duo’s humor.

“They were really funny. It was cool; they were joking around with the audience,” Matt said.

“It made the performance really entertaining.”

While the duo played a few cover songs, the performance consisted mainly of original songs written by both LeVasseur and Chapman.

artist returns with band

‘To make a difference’

SHOW ME WAYNESBURG

Campus announces photo contest

Week.

“I have been a mem-

ber of the Student Activities Board for four years.

I know how to come up with ideas that fit the budget and Pat Bristor is our faculty advisor,” said Brusstar.

“She helps us with booking events, performances and oversees everything SAB does. It is still mostly student run though.”

Not only is Brusstar vice president of SAB, she is also the head of the festive events committee which coordinated

Students travel to five service locations over spring break

By Rachel Davis Staff Writer For most college students, spring break is a week to get away from the typical college grind of work and classes and a chance to relax with friends and family. But for 75 Waynesburg University students, spring break was a time to serve locally, nationally and internationally.

The university sent out five service teams to Ecuador, Belize, the Bahamas, Pittsburgh

and North Carolina.

Assistant Professor of Biology Janet Paladino led the service trip to Ecuador, where she and her team of students worked with Summit Adventure, which focuses on environmental stewardship.

The group also worked with the

Happiness Foundation, a Christian orphanage that teaches sustainability.

“It was a very successful trip and diverse trip in that we got to look at the beauty of creation and how people fit into creation and teach the kids,” Paladino said.

University students aided the orphanage in caring for a guinea pig farm as well as working with other environmental issues like alfalfa farming.

They also took the children to a local rainforest conservation to observe hundreds of butterflies and hummingbirds.

Photo courtesy of Tiffany Franck

See BAND on D2

See PHOTOS on D3

Curtain set to open on ‘State Fair,’ musical begins March 30

By Rob Griffith Staff Writer The Waynesburg University players take the stage with music, dancing, action and romance to present their version of a classic golden age musical, “State Fair.”

The performance is scheduled for Wednesday, March 30, through Saturday, April 2 in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center.

Each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and the public is cordially invited to attend.

Eddie Powers, director and associate professor of theatre, said he chose the play to introduce classic musical writers Rogers and Hammerstein to a

generation that has “grown up on ‘Grease,’ ‘Footloose,’ ‘Wicked’ and anything that American Idol sings.”

“We’ve lost sight of the greatness of Rogers and Hammerstein,” Powers said.

“So it’s good to pick some of these chestnuts, if you will, some of the old standards, the classics.”

Originally written as a movie in 1945, “State Fair” tells the story of an Iowan farming family’s three-day trip to the Iowa State Fair.

The adults in the family go in hopes of winning blue ribbons, while the children are more interested in finding romance.

Waynesburg’s perform-

ance of “State Fair” will star seniors David Call, Melissa Grom, Andrew Oreski, Kirstin Repco, Ryan Bistarkey, Jamie Cardenas and Sable Griedel in lead roles.

“We have an enthusiastic cast, a group that is willing to work and is having fun doing it. The energy level is so high, and that’s always a lot of fun,” Powers said. “It’s always great for the director to see that the actors are having a good time.”

Ben Crawshaw, a junior chemistry major who plays reporter Pat Gilbert in the musical, agreed.

“This is the third musical I’ve done, and it’s definitely been the hardest,” See PLAY on D3

Photo by Amanda Rice

Ben Crawshaw and Kirsten Repco perform during the musical performed by the Waynesburg University players titled “State Fair.”

YELLOW JACKET

Page D2

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Arts & Life

English lecturer nominated for publication in poem book

By Jessica Schinkovec

“It is the best of all poems published the past year, as judged by editors,” Randolph says.

Once a person is nominated they can choose which three pieces of

work they would like to submit. Then a number of pieces are chosen by a committee and put into the book.

“This year I had two poems that I really liked

better than the others,” said Randolph.

Randolph’s first choice was a poem he wrote when he spent some time in Greece.

The poem is about

older men that would sit in a cafe by the harbor early in the mornings.

The men would get a small cup of dark coffee, take the first sip and sigh.

Randolph said it seemed like a ritual, and there was a feeling of community.

“One of my friends from Greece said to me, ‘this is what you’re supposed to do,” Randolph said.

“He even tried to train me in the proper way to sigh.”

Randolph’s second choice is a poem about his mother and his wish that she were still here.

“I used to think I could just start writing right now, where I’m at now,” Randolph said.

“But these days there may be some things I keep returning to. I’m very drawn the natural world, family and relationships.”

Writers such as Randolph are constantly writ-

The rest of Spring Week will continue the “All Around the World” with more events and cultural foods.

Wednesday is Caribbean day and we are going to host a luau in Johnson Commons at 5 pm.

It will have a pig roast, a steel drum band and people will be handing out free leis.

“Thursday is American day and will have dueling pianos in Alumni Hall at 8 p.m. Friday is French day, said Brusstar.

“There will be French dessert foods such as crepes and éclairs in the dining hall.”

Friday is also special as Student Senate is sponsoring a world fair on campus.

There will be carnival games to play, prizes to win and food to eat.

All of this will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. in Johnson Commons.

All the festivities of Spring Week conclude on Saturday with the spring formal.

Brusstar said, “This year the spring formal will be held at the Lakeside Party Center on March 26 at 7 p.m.

“The theme for the dance is China so the room will be decorated with lots of gold and red.”

Band visits campus

Although they may be pursuing solo careers, the duo has been playing together since 1992. The two met in North Carolina during LeVasseur first year of college.

“My band was playing at Jason’s school and he asked me if he could play

me a song on the guitar,” Chapman said. “Jason’s not the kind of guy to play just one song though- he played me five. After that, the rest is history.”

During their 19 years together, Life in General has recorded over 100 songs and released 10

Staff Writer A Waynesburg University Department of English lecturer has been nominated for publication in a literary book titled, “Pushcart Prize.”

“Pushcart Prize” is a book of short stories, poems and essays from chosen writers.

It has been published every year since 1976 with different pieces from writers that have been chosen for the year.

“It’s an honor because it comes from the people who really are in the publishing world,” said Robert Randolph, lecturer of English.

“I have been nominated four times and I haven’t made it in yet, so maybe this year.”

Nomination for a Pushcart comes from editors of journals that publish poetry, or the board of editors of Pushcart Press.

SAB hosts Spring Week Continued from D1 Around the World” theme, every day of Spring Week has activities that signify a country.

“On Monday the theme for the day will be Mexican. There will be a fiesta with tortillas, salsa dip and salsa dancing lessons in the Beehive at 7:30 p.m.,” Brusstar said.

Tuesday is focused on Japanese culture and there will be an oriental delight event from 2 to 4 p.m.

Students had the opportunity to make dessert sushi. Instead of fish we will be using foods like fruit roll-ups for the sushi.

Denice Gordan, a freshman biblical ministries study major, attended oriental delight.

“Oriental Delight was fun. The Korean writing was beautifully painted and the artists obviously had talent and practice.

The dessert sushi was creative and tasty,” she said.

“I especially enjoyed making origami. It’s not as difficult as it seems, and I made a cute paper piano.”

Photo by Lisa Jaeger

Robert Randolph, lecturer of English, will be published in the “Pushcart Prize” book which publishes poems and essays from selective writers.

Continued from D1 “We get inspiration from everything- interviewers, T.V. shows, personal stories, anything,” Chapman said. “We literally get inspiration from life in general.”

LeVasseur and Chapman alternated vocals during the performance, each singing songs from the duo’s collection, as well as songs of their own.

Both men perform as solo acts when not performing together.

“We play more separately than we do together,” LeVasseur said. “It’s great to play together though. I like to hear Jerry’s stuff.”

ing; it is what they love to do.

“Writers write. I’m not saying I don’t have another life, but that’s just what they do,” said Randolph.

“That’s what amazes me about this department.”

Randolph says that the amount of talent and accomplishments in the Waynesburg University English Department is amazing.

Randolph has had many other accomplishments throughout his life, along with the many other professors in the English department.

“The creative writing energy here amazes me, for the number of people we have and what goes on here,” Randolph said.

“Right here you have three people that have been nominated for Pushcarts in past years.”

Randolph says for his students he wishes that, “win, lose or draw, they never give up.”

albums. The duo has won several awards and has been awarded the Campus Entertainment Award Artist of the Year five times. Currently, LeVasseur and Chapman are on separate tours, touring Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

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Arts & Life

WU students serve others Continued from D1 Institutional Planning, Research and Economic Development led a group to Belize City, Belize to work with Unity Presbyterian Church and Primary School.

The 12 students expanded and painted the security gate outside and also worked inside with the teachers by completing activities like handson science experiments.

“The biggest challenge was that the children are lovable and friendly and you can lose sight of what they really live in,” said Noftzger.

A group of nursing students also traveled internationally to Nassau, Bahamas to set up a clinic for Haitian refugees.

Lynne Christopher, freshman, explained the three stations the group organized.

Patients first went through the checkin/entertainment station, which allowed students to get to know the people they would be working with and to “have fun with the little ones we saw,” she said.

Following the check-in, patients went to the assessment room, where the nursing students took their vitals and found out what was ailing the patient.

Finally, they went upstairs to the pharmacy.

“We brought vitamins, tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap and a comb for all of our patients,” Christopher said. “Then we gave them the other medicine that they needed for their symptoms.”

According to Christopher, it was very challenging to be unable to provide dental work to the refugees.

Despite the challenges, the group was also able to

worship with the Haitian people, which became the most powerful moment for Christopher.

“It was so amazing that these people loved and trusted God as much as they did when they had nothing,” said Christopher. “We were thanked throughout the service and throughout our days of the clinic, but after the service people came up to us, children did too, and they hugged us, held our hands and truly thanked us and thanked God for bringing us to them.”

Sarah Brandstetter, coordinator of the Bonner Scholar program, led a group of students to Pittsburgh to work with the Pittsburgh Project. The students splint worked with people in the Pittsburgh community who were unable to make repairs on their homes.

While working in an area where the majority of the homes were being condemned, one group witnessed part of a house fall off the hillside, which helped to reinforce the reason they were there.

Some students even said that although they are from the Pittsburgh area, it was a side of Pittsburgh that they have never seen and wouldn’t have ever seen if it wasn’t for the trip.

Brandstetter said that reason for the trip was to “help to make a difference in their lives.”

Pat Bristor, associate dean of students, also led a trip where students worked with their hands.

She and her students worked with Habitat for Humanity of Cabarrus County, N.C. The group stayed and worked in Concord, N.C., building a ranch style home. The group started with a concrete foundation and built the exterior and interior walls, built the roof and did other miscellaneous prep work for the future groups.

Photo by Amanda Rice

(Above) The play will begin on March 30 and will run through April 2 and will be held in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center. (Below) Kirsten Repco sings during one of scenes of the musical.

Play set to begin Continued from D1 Crawshaw said. “But that means that we’re coming together and forming a community. A lot more people are helping out and pitching in.”

Powers said selecting the yearly musical is a time-consuming process.

“We have so many students who would like to be involved, so we try to pick a show that is going to have a significant chorus,” Powers said.

“We like to choose a show that allows us to spotlight not just the major characters, but some of the minor characters as well.”

Gender ratios for a cast

Photos accepted Continued from D1 from the photo contest.

with more women than men and stage and set requirements must also be taken into account.

“Some shows require a great deal of scenery, and I have to look at a show and consider our small wing space and small shop,” Powers said.

“How can we achieve this with minimum set?”

Given all these considerations, Powers says State Fair fit the bill.

“With ‘State Fair’ being a Rogers and Hammerstein show - the same people that gave us Oklahoma, Carousel, The King and I - the music is wonderful,” Powers said.

“Looking at the story, it’s going to challenge our actors and it’s always nice to have some good dance numbers in there as a challenge.”

Powers says he chal-

According to Zwinger, there are at least 20 applicants this year, and many photos have already been submitted.

Last year, there were 600 photos submitted from around 40 students,

lenges his actors and actresses to “totally encompass” their roles for the audience.

“It’s not Dave, Sable, Mel and Ryan on stage

now. It’s Abel, or Emily, or the judge,” Powers said.

“When we, the audience, accept them in those characters then the magic of theatre has occurred.”

Zwinger said.

“More and more people are participating,” said Zwinger. “That is good for us and many other organizations around campus that use their pictures.”

Pictures range from student activities to theater as well as mission trips.

“We are looking for a wide variety of pictures to get the best representation in our pamphlets of what Waynesburg has to offer,” said Zwinger.

While these photos are being turned into University Relations and Admissions, other organizations can use them.

The Yellow Jacket and Mad Anthony are two of the on-campus organizations that use the photos.

These photographers do not only take these photos for the diversity of their portfolios. The top four pictures receive gift cards, and the top three receive trophies.

Last year’s winners were honored via email, but Zwinger said she would like to recognize the winners in Benedum Dining Hall this year as well so that the photographs can be viewed by the campus community.

The photographs are due on April 11, and according to Zwinger, there are still plenty of opportunities to take great pictures.

She said, “We need pictures of everything from athletics to student activities and mission trips.”

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Arts & Life

A sorrowful spring arrives in Japan after earthquakes

NEWS IN BRIEF

By Laura King Los Angeles Times TOKYO — This year in Japan, the rites of spring have transformed themselves into the rituals of sorrow.

Monday’s national holiday marked the vernal equinox, the start of a season enshrined in the nation’s classical art and literature as a time of fragile, fleeting beauty. But at this spring’s onset, Japanese find themselves gazing upon an unfathomable landscape of death and destruction wrought by earthquake and tsunami.

The vernal equinox, like its autumn counterpart, is traditionally associated with reunions of kinfolk and visits to graves of ancestors. Both of these conventions, though, carry terrible resonance at a time of shattered families and nameless bodies piling up in makeshift morgues, a particular horror in a society with meticulously observed funerary customs.

“I came here to rest my mind for a moment,” said Taro Okuzawa, pausing at a tiny Shinto shrine perched, incongruously, on the rooftop of a busy department store in Tokyo’s Ginza district. “I try to grasp what has happened to us, and I cannot.”

Springtime normally ushers in a procession of Japanese matsuri, or festivals, many with roots in the eternal rhythms of agrarian life, the turning of seasons or the ways of the natural world. This year, for many, nature’s terrors hardly bear contemplating: shaking earth, waves like dark mountains, radiation’s invisible menace.

Although cherished as cultural touchstones even in a hyper-modern, gizmo-laden land, traditional matsuri are likely to be scarce this spring. Their loss, only one among so many, is nonetheless mourned.

In the old shrine-dotted Tokyo neighborhood of Asakusa, organizers had prepared for months for a celebration known as the Golden Dragon Dance, an exuberant whirl of lanterns, chants and drumming. But it would have fallen on March 18, only a week after the earthquake; it was swiftly called off. So was an even bigger festival in the neighborhood, a three-day extravaganza known as the Sanja Matsuri, which normally takes place in May. “The earthquake we just had is a once-in-a-thousandyear event, and we decided we needed to forgo our festival,” said Kouji Yano, a Shinto priest at Asakusa’s main shrine. “We just wouldn’t be in the mood.”

Perhaps Japan’s most indelible springtime ritual is cherry-blossom viewing, and that too is likely to be curtailed.

The delicate pink flowers, regarded here as a poetically melancholy symbol of life’s evanescence, have not yet bloomed in Tokyo, or in the country’s ravaged northeast.

Normally, at this time of year, the public avidly tracks the sakura zensen, or cherry-blossom front, as it moves steadily northward with warming temperatures.

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Obama pledges millions in drug-fighting aid

Police serach for escaped komodo dragons

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – Reflecting on America's role in another war-torn country, El Salvador, President Barack Obama paid homage Tuesday evening at the tomb of a Catholic archbishop gunned down by U.S.-linked death squads more than three decades ago.

Obama pledged $200 million to Central America to battle a new menace: drug cartels.

He hailed President Mauricio Funes, the first leftist leader in El Salvador's modern history, for his moderate policies and efforts to "overcome old divisions" still visible in this tiny nation.

Narcotics, public security and immigration were the main topics as Obama and Funes met in the ornate presidential palace, surrounded by tropical gardens.

As much as 80 percent of the cocaine from the Andean region passes through Central America, and drug gangs from Colombia and Mexico have moved heavily into the region.

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Police in Indonesia's second-largest city were investigating the disappearance of three komodo dragons from a local zoo, a news report said Tuesday.

The venomous giant lizards, all 1 year old, went missing earlier this month from the zoo in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, the state Antara news agency said.

The zoo is left with 56 other komodos.

At 2 to 3 yards long, the komodo dragons mostly eat carrion, but also have a toxic bite which they use to weaken live prey.

2 Two Air Force aviators rescued after crash WASHINGTON – Two Air Force aviators were rescued after they bailed out of a U.S. fighter jet late Monday before it crashed in northeast Libya due to a mechanical malfunction.

Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III said both crew members were in U.S. hands.

Locklear, the operational commander of the air war in Libya, spoke by phone to reporters at the Pentagon.

A U.S. military official said one of the crew members was found by a U.S. search and rescue team and the other was found by Libyan rebels and was safe.

The aircraft, normally based in England, was flying out of Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy when it crashed.

The military said it was not releasing their identities until family members were notified.

A photograph in the Telegraph, a British newspaper, showed the wreckage of what looked like a U.S. warplane in a field in Libya surrounded by onlookers.

4 Portugal’s government on brink of downfall LISBON – Portugal's governing Socialists made a last-ditch attempt Tuesday to stave off a government collapse as parliament prepared to vote on an austerity package ahead of a key European Union summit.

This would lead to Prime Minister Jose Socrates' resignation, early elections and a possible request for international help by Portugal.

A political crisis would push Portugal towards a financial rescue. The fall of the Portuguese government would lead to months of political uncertainty, eroding investor confidence in all of the eurozone’s weaker members, analysts said.

5 Palin visits Israel, cancels visit to Palestine JERUSALEM – Fox News Channel commentator and former Alaska governor, Sarah Palin, met Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and settlement supporter Danny Danon. She toured the Western Wall tunnels, one of Judaism's holiest sites.

Israeli officials said she had not coordinated her visit with Palestinian authorities, though any person possessing a U.S. passport can enter Bethlehem.

Palestinian officials expressed disappointment that Palin hadn't visited them, but added they were "not surprised."

Allied airstrikes boost confidence of Libyan rebels

By Nancy A. Youssef McClatchy Newspapers BENGHAZI, Libya — Two days after U.S. and coalition forces imposed a no-fly zone over Libya, rebels moved Monday to retake the city of Ajdabiya, a critical crossroads in their fight to regain the territory they lost last week.

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi still held the bulk of Ajdabiya, about 50 miles south of Benghazi, but rebels said they had entered the outskirts.

They said that after Ajdabiya, they would move to the oil terminal towns of Brega and Ras Lanuf, and the village of Bin Jawad, which they lost last week to Gadhafi loyalists, and then would tackle Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte.

But that seemed like an ambitious goal on Monday, for the forces in Ajdabiya were poorly armed and scattered, some coming to battle only with knives.

The fall of Ajdabiya to Gadhafi’s forces Saturday

Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times/MCT

A rebel fighter celebrates on a smoldering tank on March 21 in the village of Zwitina, Libya, located near Ajdabiya approximately two days after U.S. and coalition forces imposed a no-fly zone over Libya. triggered a wholesale exodus of Gadhafi opponents from Benghazi, which had become the rebel capital in eastern Libya. But when French fighter jets bombed Gadhafi tanks here and the U.S. and Great Britain followed

with Tomahawk cruise missiles and bomber attacks on Gadhafi’s antiaircraft defenses outside Tripoli, the rebels flooded back. The boost to rebel morale from the allied bombing strikes could be seen everywhere here.

Residents who didn’t flee Saturday emerged from their homes for the first time in days.

How far the allied bombers will go in supporting the rebel advance was unclear, however, and it isn’t certain that the dis-

organized and untrained rebel force would be able to retake the towns along Libya’s coastal highway without allied attacks on Gadhafi’s tanks and artillery.

The war could well be headed to a stalemate. On

Monday, the western city of Misrata sustained more attacks from pro-Gadhafi forces, which apparently were undeterred by the allies’ bombing campaign.

U.S. Army Gen. Carter Ham, the commander of the U.S. Africa Command, which is responsible for Libya, told reporters Monday that the allies wouldn’t take sides in the conflict.

The U.N. Security Council, which approved the imposition of the nofly zone last week, scheduled a closed-door session Monday to hear concerns from Russia, India and China over how the U.S., Britain and France had carried out the resolution.

Despite the allied attacks, Benghazi seemed far emptier Monday than a few days ago, suggesting that not everyone is convinced the fighting here is over. Many suggested renaming the city’s main highway for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, conceding that pro-Gadhafi forces would have taken the city if France hadn’t mounted its air assault here Saturday.