2.19.15 Yellow Jacket

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CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF STUDENT JOURNALISM: NAMEPLATE CIRCA 1967 FEBRUARY 19, 2015 | VOL. 91 NO. 14 | THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG

STUDENT PRODUCED SINCE 1924

University loan default rate among lowest in country

By JOHN LYDIC

Multimedia Manger

With tuition numbers consistently rising among schools across the country, Waynesburg’s cohort default rate continues to be among the lowest in the country despite rising college tuition rates, according to a Waynesburg official.

“The cohort default rates

looks at students who in a particular cohort year go into repayment,” said Matt Stokan, director of Financial Aid. “In those numbers, they look at the total number of students divided by the number of students who either don’t begin a repayment process or don’t take advantage of the deferment options that are available.”

The cohort default rate

system used to look at a twoyear period to determine what percentage of students were defaulting on their student loans. The system was recently revised to start reviewing a three-year period for the default rate.

According to Stokan, the change was made because officials said there was less of a chance for a student to go into default in the first two

years then there was over a three-year period.

The most recent report examined the period from 2009-2011. Another report will be released later this month about the last three years’ cohort default rates for colleges and universities.

Waynesburg’s default rate for the two-year cohort default rate in 2011 was 3.4 percent and the three year

rate was five percent, according to Stokan.

According to the Federal Education Budget Project, the national average for a two-year cohort default rate in 2011 was 10 percent. The average for the three-year report was seven percent.

Stokan attributes the success of keeping the university’s default rate low to the administration and also the

students.

“Ninety-five percent of students who go into repayment stay out of default,” said Stokan. “I credit this to, number one, the quality of students we enroll and graduate from the university.

Two, I think it’s a credit to our administration because as I have said before, I think See COHORT on A4

Vaccine policy provides safe environment

Recurrence of measles scare on West Coast unlikely to occur at WU

By JACOB MEYER Managing Editor

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2000, the United States declared that the disease measles was eliminated, which means the disease was not present in the country.

In 2014 there were 644 cases of measles in the United States, and with recent outbreaks in California, specifically the one at Disneyland, questions have been raised as

Photos courtesy University Relations

In 1857, Waynesburg became the first institution in Pennsylvania to award degrees to women. The first female degree holders at Waynesburg were (left to right) Laura E. (Weethee) Jennings, Lydia Ann (Weethee) Sparrow and Margret Leonice (Needham) Still.

See SHOTS on A4

Remembering our roots

Christian artist slated to cap Charter Day

Waynesburg recognizes forward-thinking President Weethee as one of first in nation to grant degrees to women more than 150 years ago

By KIMMI BASTON Managing Editor

Concert continues trend that began at Inauguration

W

aynesburg has been handing out degrees for more than 160 years. During that time, the institution has celebrated a slew of ‘firsts’ – the first president, the first matriculation, the first graduating class and the first women with degrees equal to men’s.

As Courtney Dennis, coordinator of Institutional Advancement and History, said, “anytime you’re the first to do anything, that’s a big deal.”

Certain figures in Waynesburg’s history might agree – in particular, Margaret Leonice Still, Lydia Ann Sparrow and Laura E. Jennings.

In 1857, they were the first women at

By KIMMI BASTON Managing Editor

On March 24, Waynesburg University will celebrate its 166th birthday with its annual Charter Day celebration.

Charter Day, as it is known today, has been a time for a variety of different traditions since its advent in 1987, including yearly campus- and alumni-related events.

A new tradition has recently been added to the ranks: a performance by a visiting

Waynesburg College and in Pennsylvania’s history to graduate from a higher education institution with degrees. In fact, they were some of the first in the nation.

Only Oberlin College in Ohio is proven to have offered degrees to women before Waynesburg College. Research is ongoing, but according to Dennis, “it’s pretty safe to say that [Waynesburg] would have been the second in the country to do so.”

Prior to 1857, women who graduated from Waynesburg College were presented with diplomas, not degrees. They followed a completely different course of study in the female department than what the men did; their education was a year shorter than the men’s.

As such, the ‘first’ graduating class of Waynesburg in 1852 consisted entirely of women – the first degreed class did not graduate until 1853.

But the diplomas earned by women did not hold the same weight as the men’s degrees. They were taught separately, housed separately, recognized at separate commencement ceremonies and the coursework was entirely different.

A relatively short time after its founding in 1849, Waynesburg College began to move toward an equalized system of higher education.

The movement began when the Rev. Jonathan Weethee became President of Waynesburg College in 1855.

See 1857 on A4

See ARTIST on A2

ABOUT THIS WEEK'S NAMEPLATE Editor’s Note: As the Yellow Jacket enters its 90th year of publication, we’re going back into our archives to reprint 10 iconic nameplates from our past in advance of the unveiling of a new nameplate in the April 23 Commencement Issue.

This week's nameplate dates back to 1967. During the week of Sept. 29 that year, the Yellow Jacket

began publishing issues weekly, instead of biweekly.

The football team also began its season that year with two victories in a row, inspiring athletes and students alike.

The Sept. 29 issue announced the Danford Foundation Fellowship, a prestigious award for students, and President and Mrs. Bennett M. Rich hosted a reception in their home.

Students finding strategies to cope with stress

By JENNY SCHOUPPE Convergence Editor

Throughout the years spent in college, students face a variety of challenges that can cause anxiety and grief in their lives.

With every new school year brings new challenges that test students emotionally, mentally and physically.

As a freshman, almost everything is a new experience.

The transition from high school to college is a challenge within itself.

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Campus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1–A4 Region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1, B4 Editorial/Op-ed. . . . . . . . B2 News Digest. . . . . . . . . . B3 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C1–C4 Arts & Life. . . . . . . . . . . . D1–D2 Entertainment . . . . . . . . D3–D4

Local schools are working together to raise awareness of dating violence during Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Copyright © 2015 Waynesburg University 51 W. College St. Waynesburg, Pa. 15370

See B1

“It’s a big life change,” said with friends. It is completely freshmen middle level edu- your decision how to spend cation major Amber Cofield. your time, and I know I have “You have a lot more had times I didn’t JACKET LIFE responsibilities, and An occasional series always spend it the no one really tells you way I should had.” what to do.”

Another adjustAccording to Cofield, the ment freshmen find is the new freedom experienced by challenge to find the right freshmen can cause some to friend group. face challenges when it comes “I’m a shy person,” said to time management.

Cofield. “Finding friends was “Time management is a hard at first, until I pushed huge struggle,” said Cofield. myself out of my comfort zone “College students don’t have and found friends within my anyone telling them when to major.” study or when to hang out The changes faced within

the first year of college can be constant, but there are ways to not get overwhelmed.

“I’m stressed almost every day,” said Cofield. “Venting to my roommate helps me relieve some of the constant stress.”

According to junior entrepreneurship major Lauren Blair, as time goes on some challenges remain but there are also new ones that add even more stress to the already hectic lifestyles of college stuSee STRESS on A4

A DAY IN THE LIFE

THROWING UP THOUSANDS

Musicians that visit Waynesburg divulge the sacrifices they make to pursue their lives of artistry.

Seniors Jason Propst and Jacob Fleegle have reached major career milestones in the same season.

See C1

See D1

Yellow Jacket

Page A2

February 19, 2015

Local amateur video submitted to Oscars inspires students

CHAPEL

By ANTHONY CONN

For the Yellow Jacket

Jenny Schouppe, Yellow Jacket

chapel band presents new song

The Waynesburg University chapel band unveiled their new song at chapel Tuesday. The whole band performed the song, but it was originally written by senior sociology major Cody Hillberry. The song's purpose was a conversation between a person and God.

Alumni reminisce at Valentine’s Day dinner

By AUDREY DOMASKY For the Yellow Jacket

On Feb. 14, Waynesburg alumni couples met on Waynesburg’s campus to celebrate love and their days in college.

A catered dinner, along with Valentine’s Day themed decorations, awaited couples that entered the doors of the third floor Stover. The night included a slideshow of all of the different couples, a feature video of the oldest Waynesburg alumni couple, three raffle prizes and 25 unique love stories.

The night began with 30 minutes of free time for couples to meet or catch up with one another.

T he t i me w as sp e nt sharing stories of how the couples met and how Waynesburg impacted their relationships.

One couple, Sue and Bob Dugan, shared how they met during the school’s “Secular Years,” said Sue.

Photo courtesy Gregory Reinhart

Waynesburg alumni dine at the inaugural Valentine's Day sweethearts dinner, where they shared stories of finding love as students.

“I was a cheerleader and he was on the basketball team,” said Dugan. “There were 700 students here.

No one went home, so you knew everyone.”

In addition to falling in love with Waynesburg University and people, Sue

Dugan shared with all the couples at her table the joy that comes with the friendships she created while she was at Waynesburg.

“I feel really strongly about the fact that we came here, made awesome friends and 30 years later they’re

still our friends. I hope you have the same,” said Dugan.

Her friends at the table, who all met while attending Waynesburg, nodded and smiled in agreement.

Another married pair, See ALUMNI on A3

This weekend, millions of people will be watching the Oscars on ABC. The 87th Academy Awards will declare winners in various movie categories, rewarding many popular movies and actors. What many may not know is that for the past few years, amateurs have been entering the contest as well.

According to an article in the Herald-Standard, three filmmakers from Uniontown did just that. Seth Smiley, Jordan LoNigro and Nathan King submitted a video to the Oscars in January. The team competed for the opportunity to deliver awards to Oscar winners, aspiring to reach the final six.

News of this opportunity has sparked interest in students on Waynesburg’s campus.

“It gives me hope,” says Stephen Haynes, senior electronic media major. “It gives me hope seeing big corporations look to the underdogs for inspiration, and to see what they have to offer. I like when small markets can be recognized for their achievements.”

This year, the theme of the amateur videos was to convey the best advice participants had ever received.

Smiley, LoNigro and King created and submitted “Every Dollar Counts,” a sixty-second video about a father teaching his son a lesson. The video begins with the son helping his dad with housework, during which the dad gives his son a dollar. He tells the boy that every dollar counts.

The video then flashes ahead to the son’s adulthood, as he spends money relentlessly. Eventually he becomes homeless, begging on the street. He is handed a dollar, only to find that it was the same one that his father had given him years before.

The video was written

by Smiley and directed by King and LoNigro. Despite its brevity, “Every Dollar Counts” carries a powerful message. It can be found on Youtube.

The team of Smiley, LoNigro and King collaborated effectively in a short period of time.

According to the Herald Standard, they discovered the contest on Jan. 8 and submitted their video on Jan. 12, the contest’s deadline. Despite the quick thinking and last minute effort, the young filmmakers did not place in the final six.

While the idea of young filmmakers getting recognized at the professional level is inspiring to other amateurs in the field, some downsides may come with it.

“People stop thinking of it as a professional thing,” says Matt McDermott, sophomore ministry media major. “Instead, anyone can do it. I like contests because they give the opportunities, but I also don’t like them because it makes the field seem less professional in some ways. There are pros and cons.”

Mc D e r m o t t s ay s h e would enter a video contest “when the right time and the right opportunity comes.”

He typically does his work by himself, allowing for his original ideas to be accurately depicted.

Although the team from Uniontown did not win this year, Haynes says that when it comes to filmmaking, the finished video itself is still satisfying.

“I love doing it,” says Haynes. “It’s fun to work hard with a team and put it together, finally seeing the finished product.”

The Team Oscar Competition, finishing its third year, accepts submissions from U.S. citizens, ages 1830. The winners can be seen this Sunday at 7 p.m.

Recycling Task Force attempting to increase participation

By ABBY WERNERT

Chief Photographer

Most colleges across the U.S. recycle about 20 percent of their recyclable materials. According to Dr. Janet Paladino, associate professor of environmental science, Waynesburg University only recycles about 1.6 percent of its recyclable materials.

“We do not have enough receptacles,” said Paladino as to why a majority of the campus most likely does not recycle.

Other reasons that may prevent students and faculty

alike from recycling is that a lot of receptacles are not in the right locations, they may not be used to recycling or do not know a lot about the benefits of recycling.

However, Paladino, along with the students who make up the Recycling Task Force, are hoping to be able to change that.

“We’re very driven to make something happen,” said Paladino. “The administration would be willing to change if students were interested.”

According to Paladino, the main concerns are how to make recycling become

was in high school, it’s cur-

being recycled to be pre-

a lot of recycling receptacles around for students to use.

More receptacles means spending more money, though. However, according to Paladino, the plan for the semester is to solicit for funds and try to raise the money to buy not only more receptacles, but higher quality ones as well.

The hope is to get more receptacles placed in more locations around campus and have receptacles that would allow for the items

Paladino is hoping that, if the Recycling Task Force is able to raise the money to buy more containers and is able to present the data that more students would recycle if it was more accessible, then the administration would be able to pay for the collection of the recycling.

“We pay for our waste to be taken to the landfill,” said Paladino.

If less is going to the land-

“I believe if recycling is more accessible on rently easier for students sorted, as well as preventcampus that students would be motivated to pitch to just throw everything ing them from falling apart away because there are not as easily. in their recyclables.”

RYAN SMITH

Senior international cultures major

an important issue and where the money that is needed to help establish a more thorough recycling program on campus would come from.

“I believe if recycling is more accessible on campus that students would be motivated to pitch in their recyclables. We can’t expect the

students who are not passionate about recycling to go out of their way to recycle,” said senior international cultures major Ryan Smith.

“I believe if recycling was more accessible that more students would participate because it’s easy.”

According to Smith, who has been recycling since he

Artist: Charter Day concert details announced

Continued from A1

Christian artist on the evening of Charter Day. This year, musician Jared Anderson will perform in Roberts Chapel on March 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Anderson started his career in worship music in 2001 with an independent album and has since produced four solo albums through Integrity Music.

According to Anderson’s website, his music aims to bring listeners along on the path of his faith: “Whatever the setting, Jared takes a simple song and turns it into a journey.”

The Colorado musician takes his role as a servant leader in the world of worship music seriously.

“We’re in the foot washing

business,” said his online biography. “If you want to lead, you have to serve. And if you want to serve, you have to surrender.”

As such, the university found him to be a good fit for the upcoming celebration of its founding.

Victoria Beppler, assistant director of Alumni Relations and member of the team organizing Charter Day, said choosing a Christian artist like Anderson was done in an effort to echo the popular concert by Michael W. Smith that took place during the Presidential Inauguration in 2014.

“We wanted to have the similar vibe of Michael W. Smith last year, and so I think that’ll be a really nice addition this year,” said Beppler.

“Being a Christian artist aligns with the mission of

Waynesburg University, and being able to have a Christian artist play in the Roberts Chapel is also a really great way to just kind of continue to live out our mission, so I think that’s why he was picked.”

Tickets will be available at no cost on ticketleap.com beginning Feb. 23. Students, faculty and staff will have a chance to reserve seats first.

The opportunity will then be extended to alumni, and any remaining tickets will be offered to members of the community surrounding the university.

Before the concert, an alumni donor recognition and awards dinner will be held on campus, to which visiting alumni, donors and students who have received donation-driven scholarships will be invited. After-

wards, guests will be able to join in with the concert and other activities, such as the Charter Day service.

Beppler hopes the campus community will come together as they did last year to celebrate Waynesburg University with music .

“Charter Day is a really great way to celebrate the founding of Waynesburg University,” said Beppler.

“Having a concert on Charter Day is just another way to celebrate our mission of faith, learning and service and how we have been on that path since 1849. My hope is that students will recognize and realize how much rich history we have here and just celebrate the fact that Waynesburg University has been chartered for 166 years, and that’s a really big deal.”

this fall!

See RECYCLE on A3

Yellow Jacket

February 19, 2015

Page A3

Bonner Scholars to host event in Bee Hive to fund longest-standing site

By ANDY STANKO

For the Yellow Jacket

Bonner Scholars will be offering a tasty alternative to the dining hall and Bee Hive on Friday, Feb. 20, to benefit the program’s longest standing service site.

Students are cooking and selling cheesesteaks from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Beehive to raise money for the Open Door Youth Outreach Center in Pittsburgh.

Students can get their hands on a cheesesteak, fries, two cookies and a drink with just $2 and a meal swipe. Another available option is to buy a meal for $7.50, or a just a cheesesteak for $5.

“The $2 completely benefits the Open Door,” said Bonner coordinator Adrienne Tharp. “Anybody from campus or the community that purchases, that’s 100 percent profit for Open Door.”

Bonner students are involved in facilitating the Open Door’s Friday night activities that run from late September through May. “They do a lot of different programs, but our students are primarily involved with their Friday night rec program,” said Tharp. “It’s just an opportunity for them to interact with youth.”

Open Door offers a variety of options, such as a computer room, art room, snacks and games in the gym, for the youth of Crafton Heights and surrounding areas.

“The minute we walk in the door, the kids are lined up waiting for us to come in,” said Kyle Digiandomenico, senior B onner

Gracious Shavers, Yellow Jacket

Erin Kern (far right), senior Bonner Scholar, along with other Bonners, plays a game at the Open Door Youth Outreach in Pittsburgh, which is the Bonner Program's longest standing service site.

Scholar and site coordinator for Bonners at Open Door.

“They just want to throw dodgeballs. It’s really fun, that part – throwing dodgeballs at the kids.”

Open Door hosts students from kindergarten through fifth grade from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and students from sixth grade through twelfth grade from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Bonner students serve for both sessions every Friday night, thanks to cooperation with the university to get volunteers to the service site.

“We’re fortunate that we

have vehicles the students can reserve to get up there,” said Tharp. “They leave here around 4:30 p.m. or five and get back to campus around 11 p.m.”

The opportunity to go and interact with the children is not limited to those involved in the Bonner program.

“The interest has greatly increased, so we usually send two vehicles on Friday nights so anywhere from seven to 14 students can go,” said Tharp. “Anyone can go, it’s not open just to Bonners, other students that are not Bonners go.”

The support from Waynesburg students has been very well-received by those leading the activities on Friday nights during the school year.

“The supervisor at the site tells us that without Waynesburg present, the site wouldn’t survive because they have a hard time finding volunteers,” said Digiandomenico. “They have a hard time getting funding, so something would have happened.”

Bonner Scholars have been involved in giving back to the service site through a number of other

smaller fundraisers and funds available from the Bonner program. Previous fundraising efforts have gone toward repairing the computer room and a leak in the roof, and redoing floors and walls.

“A lot of students have been volunteering at Open Door for quite some time, and like any older building, it needs some repairs and some work,” said Tharp.

“Last year some of the students that graduated used some of their Bonner monies that they get to do some repairs. There’s s till some need.”

The facility is dated and showing its age, so the fundraising efforts are geared toward upgrading and updating the venue.

There are also issues with the gym floor that the Bonners hope to be able to address with the proceeds gathered from the sale of the cheesesteaks.

“The floor is bowing, so we’re looking to repair the main floor,” said Digiandomenico. “We’re also looking to replace the lighting fixtures, and we’re looking to paint. It hasn’t been painted since probably the 70s.”

Goals for the fundraiser go beyond making the necessary repairs, but also expanding and attracting more youth to Open Door.

“We get about 30-40 students from each group, so probably a total of 80 a night,” said Digiandomenico. “We want to modernize it a little bit and make it something that’s more aesthetically pleasing that kids are going to look forward to coming, because it’s nice and they want to be in a good atmosphere.”

The fundraiser itself originated from a group of Bonners that needed money for a service trip to Philadelphia, and is now one of the marquee fundraisers for the program. “[Students] decided to continue this fundraiser, but they have decided to each year pick a different organization where students are serving to donate the money there,” said Tharp. “Last year it was Bowlby Library, the year before that WWJD after school program, and then this year they chose Open Door.”

Public relations students offer alternative to selfie Recycle: Plans made for

Fundraiser provides professional headshots

WAYNESBURG – The Waynesburg University Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter is set to host the “Sick of the Selfie” fundraiser Feb. 23-25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Eberly Library

photography studio. The cost is $10 for three photographs with retouch or $5 for three photographs without retouch.

For students, professional portraits make a great addition to portfolios.

A headshot is a picture that can be utilized for many different things, from use on social media sites like LinkedIn to placement on a resume.

Waynesburg University’s PRSSA chapter is sponsoring this professional por-

trait fundraiser. The profits made from this fundraiser will go to the general Waynesburg PRSSA fund, which supports travel funds that allow member students to attend professional development conferences.

Each year, Waynesburg’s PRSSA sends multiple public relations majors to the PRSSA National Conference and PRSSA National Assembly. Some places that the Waynesburg PRSSA chapter has traveled include: Washington, D.C.;

Charlotte, North Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Phoenix, Arizona.

This year, a group of PRSSA members will to travel to Portland, Oregon and Atlanta, Georgia.

Appointments for photographs are not necessary. All images will be in digital format, and files will be transferred via school email.

For further information, contact Cassidy Graham at gra4684@student.waynesburg.edu.

Alumni: Couple celebrates 20 years of marriage

Continued from A3

Chuck and Shelly Trump, met af ter a p ar t ic u lar Waynesburg biology class.

Shelly remembered approaching Chuck after class while walking up the hill heading up from Stewart and asking if he had ever had that professor.

Their first date in 1992 landed them at “Yum Yum Donuts” for hot chocolate

and a donut or two. Chuck proposed during the summer between his junior and senior year. They now have a daughter, Elizabeth, who will be attending Waynesburg as a freshman next year.

This year, Chuck and Shelly are celebrating 20 years of marriage.

A Waynesburg Sweetheart herself, Heidi Szuminsky, executive director of institutional advance-

ment, shared that love for each other and love for the school is what brought the couples together that night.

“Although we each have our own story, my guess is that all of us in this room tonight have a little bit more affection for Waynesburg because it’s where we met and fell in love with the one we would spend the rest of our lives with,” said Szuminsky.

Couples were ver y

pleased with the event and wish to see the Valentine’s Day dinner become an annual event.

Szuminsky concluded her announcements with a wish that the alumni will continue to love each other and their alma mater.

“As you’re here celebrating the love each of you have together, this institution is a place that continues to make you proud,” said Szuminsky.

future green programming Continued from A3

fill, then the leftover money can be used for recycling instead.

Getting students to be more passionate about recycling involves more than just making recycling more accessible; it involves educating the student body as well.

“One of the main reasons I recycle is because as Christians, we are called to be good stewards of the earth,” said Smith. “We are the caretakers of the earth, and one way that I can do that is through recycling.”

According to Paladino, we are living in a throwaway society. We are throwing away our resources, our fossil fuels and our oil.

Other major recycling concerns are aluminum and plastic; there is not a large amount of aluminum left, and too much plastic is being thrown away rather than being recycled.

It is important for people to know that these resources cannot continue to be wast-

ed, as well as the harmful effects of what throwing something away can do, rather than if waste were to be recycled.

“Providing students with education on recycling will yield results,” said Paladino.

At the current moment, the Recycling Task Force is working on both plans for the short-term and longterm.

Getting the funds for more receptacles and educating students are some of the main priorities.

“Right now, this has been a slow process,” said Smith.

“However, once we can get the ball rolling, we will be able to have statistics and graphs to provide information to administrators that students are willing to recycle and use more sustainable practices on campus.”

PLEASE

RECYCLE

THIS NEWSPAPER.

Yellow Jacket

Page A4

February 19, 2015

Stress: Despite challenges during college, students find ways to relieve stress Continued from A1

Tyler Wolfe, Yellow Jacket

scholarship recognition day

On Feb. 14, prospective Waynesburg University students gathered on campus to celebrate the scholarships they've received from the university. Faculty, staff and current students led the visiting students and their parents through a day of information about Waynesburg University, encouraging them to accept their admission.

1857: School among first to grant degrees to women Continued from A1

He was a strong advocate of equal education for all, and he invited Still, Sparrow and Jennings to come to Waynesburg and complete the degreed course of study.

Sparrow and Jennings were his nieces, and Still’s father was a close friend of Weethee.

“It was completely ahead of its time, to do something like that,” said Dennis.

“Weethee was a very, very forward-thinking man.”

Dennis said the lack of equal education in America had less to do with the actual coursework than it did with institution’s desire to keep genders separated.

“Almost every institution of higher education in the country had separate departments for men and women,” she said. “It wasn’t always necessarily that people were against education for women, but I think they were afraid of the social ramifications of

having men and women in such close quarters at that age.”

As such, Weethee kept the women working toward degrees separate from their male counterparts. They took their classes in the female department, alongside women who chose to earn a diploma.

But in the 1857 college catalog, Still, Sparrow and Jennings were listed right with the men of the senior class. It was a big step – traditionally, female students were listed at the very back of the catalog.

Though each gender had its own quarters and graduation ceremony, the three pioneering women were still recognized as having completed the same level of education as men that graduated with them and those that came before.

Afterward, it was some time before more women took part in the degree program – although the female seminary diploma program grew to represent almost half the student body by 1858.

“Just because it was made available doesn’t mean that the women necessarily wanted to do it,” said Dennis of the degree program. “It was still up to them; it was an option.”

Meanwhile, the original three degree-earners went on to live full lives, remembered by future Waynesburg students and administrators alike.

During his term, Waynesburg College President Paul R. “Prexy” Stewart began compiling information on previous graduates.

Still gave birth to one child in her lifetime, and Sparrow and Jennings had five and three children, respectively.

Beyond that, Stewart had difficulty gathering information about their careers or other activities.

“When you’re going that far back and especially when it comes to women, it can be really tricky to find information about life after Waynesburg,” said Dennis.

But even without an abun-

dance of elaborative information, Waynesburg still remembers the three women as pioneers in female education.

“It was absolutely groundbreaking,” said Dennis. “We were one of the pioneer institutions to offer true coeducation. It was almost an early experiment in education. I think it really kind of laid the groundwork for other schools to follow suit and helped pave the way for not only equal education between sexes but also for equal education for all races as well. It opened up the door to all of those things.”

Some female students, like Kathryn Romanchuk, sophomore nursing major, are proud to study at a school that values diversity.

“As a woman, knowing that I go to a university that values education so much as to put aside biases and stigmas associated with gender differences really is an honor, and it is something that we should be proud of,” said Romanchuk.

Shots: University policy strongly encourages vaccinations Continued from A1

to why measles is back in the United States and if people are safe from the disease.

Measles is a respiratory disease that causes a rash and fever and is rarely deadly according to the CDC. It spreads in the U.S. mainly by unvaccinated people who travel outside of the country, contract the disease and come back into the country.

This means a smaller percentage of people are vaccinated now then in 2000. Jennifer Shiring, nurse director of Student Health Services, said things like religion, medical reactions to vaccines and fear of rare side effects keep people from vaccinating their children and themselves.

“I think measles is one of the vaccines that is pretty standard,” Shiring said.

“Most students coming in do have it. It is a concern because look at the number compared to the year 2000 and how many outbreaks there have been just this year.”

A main reason Shiring believes people are not vaccinating their children is because of what she calls “the myth” that the measles vaccine, called the MMR, can cause autism.

“There have been a lot of rumors and things out there saying that the MMR vaccine causes autism,” Shiring said.

“It was later found out to be false because the study wasn’t a good study. But there’s still that myth out there that the

MMR vaccine could cause autism, and parents are then choosing not to vaccinate their children.”

Shiring said despite the recent commotion about vaccinations, Waynesburg University has yet to have a problem with anything related to the spread of diseases.

“We do require the recommended immunizations based on the American Academy of Pediatrics. Combined with the CDC, they get together each year and they say these are the recommended immunizations by this date,” Shiring said.

Shiring said before students enroll at Waynesburg they are required to inform the school of their vaccination status.

Waynesburg requires the tetanus, measles, hepatitis B, chicken pox and polio vaccines. The meningococcal vaccine, the hepatitis A vaccine and the human papillomavirus infection vaccine are vaccinations that are recommended by the university for students to have.

According to Shiring, Waynesburg University has a 97% vaccination rate, which she believes is higher because some students who have been vaccinated have not turned in their medical forms.

“There are a few people for medical reasons or religious reasons who are not vaccinated,” Shiring said. “But if there is an outbreak on campus those students would have to go off campus if they aren’t vaccinated.”

Mike Humiston, director

of the Department of Public Safety, said step one for the Department of Public Safety if a student has the measles—or another disease that is highly contagious— would be to contact Shiring to figure out the best solution to keep the students safe, even if that means removing unvaccinated students from campus.

Humiston said Waynesburg has not had any problems and they do not anticipate any problems in regards to the spread of diseases such as the measles.

“I think the university does a very good job with communicating with the students with regards to immunizations,” Humiston said. “In spite of what somebody’s beliefs are, our job is to protect the masses of the students.”

Humiston said the policy for vaccinations at Waynesburg University is good at protecting the masses of the students, but if something were to happen the university could always reevaluate the policy to keep the students as safe as possible.

dents.

“By now I know who my friends are and I know what path I want to take in school,” said Blair. “Time management is still a challenge.”

Blair, who is a member of the women’s basketball team, finds herself struggling to juggle everything that comes along with being a studentathlete.

“Splitting time between class, friends, school work and other extra-curricular activities is hard,” said Blair.

“Thankfully, basketball is an outlet for me. It relieves my stress, and it allows me to play with my best friends.”

According to Blair, there are plenty of new challenges within the junior year.

“Classes get harder and professors expect more,” said Blair. “We are expected to have an idea of what we want in life after college. For some students, that is a huge challenge.”

As a senior, the time here at Waynesburg University is limited and there are mixed emotions felt by those who are leaving.

According to senior international cultures major Allyson Wernert, the transition out of college brings a whole new meaning to the word anxiety.

“The anxiety and stress I faced freshman year seem like nothing compared to the stress I feel now having to transition into the real world,” said Wernert. “Not that freshman year wasn’t hard, but it seems like now there is more pressure to make the right decisions.”

Though stress seems to be at its peak senior year, Wernert admits there are ways for her to relieve some anxiety.

“I sometimes just need to spend time alone and listen to music,” said Wernert. “I even have found a new love for jewelry making. It takes my mind off of school and allows me to relax and be creative.”

Stress is inevitable for college students. The anxiety may even increase as the years spent in school increase. There are always ways to relieve the stress that comes along with being a college student and there are plenty of ways that students can keep the anxiety low while making the college experience enjoyable.

Cohort: Graduates continue to maintain low loan default rates Continued from A1

president [Douglas G.] Lee and former president [Timothy R.] Thyreen and the administration have made a concerted effort to keep our costs as low as possible.”

The correlation of having lower costs leads to students having to borrow less and thus not defaulting as often as others, according to Stokan.

Quality placement rates are another reason why Stokan believes Waynesburg students are so successful on repaying loans, because they are able to get jobs that enable them to repay their

loans in a timely manner.

These rates are important, according to Stokan, because once a school has a default rate of 30 percent for three consecutive years, the federal assistance provided by the government to the school is no longer made available.

This a consequence neither the school nor the students want to face because it creates problems for both in the future, with the school having problems giving out financial aid and the student having bad credit.

Students with questions about financial assistance or loan application can inquire in the Office of Financial Aid.

SECTION B

FEBRUARY 19, 2015 | WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY | THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG

Waiting to hear a knock on the door that never comes

Each year,

1in 3 teens are victims of dating violence.

300 victims of dating violence are located in Greene County.

Audrey Conklin spends her days alone after a lifetime of loving

By JENNY SCHOUPPE Convergence Editor

N

MORE

County confronts large problem of dating violence in area amongst teens

By ABBY WERNERT

G

“We say we're feminists and liberated women but it's so difficult for a woman, even in 2015, to come forward and say they're a victim.”

CHERYL MCCREADY

satellite office coordinator of the Greene County office of DVSSP

Courtesy of the No More Campaign and Cheryl McCready

Above, the logo for the campaign against dating violence. Locally, Cheryl McCready has started the campaign with the hearts showing text messages that are red flags for an unhealthy relationship.

Chief Photographer

reene County is working to do its part in raising awareness of teen dating violence this month.

The Greene County office of Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania (DVSSP) is holding programs, as well as a contest, throughout the month of February – National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month – to help promote awareness of the problem of teen dating violence not only on a national level, but locally as well.

According to Cheryl McCready, satellite office coordinator of the Greene County office of DVSSP, one in three teens are victims of dating violence nationally, while in Greene County, there are more than 300 new victims of dating violence each year. “[We] recognized teen dating violence was a problem in the area as well as everywhere,” said McCready.

One way the Greene County office of DVSSP is hoping to raise awareness is through educational programs held in local schools.

On Feb. 19, McCready will visit Waynesburg Central High School to speak to students about the problems of teen dating violence, how to recognize the signs of an abusive relationship, what victims of dating violence go through and the choices those in abusive relationships have – in addition to how to stop the problem altogether.

“We want to focus on prevention. We want to give them the tools to have healthy relationships,” said McCready. “Ideally, we want to stop dating violence.”

Students in Waynesburg University’s Bonner Scholarship Program sponsor the program, which is in its second year.

In addition to McCready’s speech, there will be skits about the choices that need to be made as well as a presentation and testimony from Cheryl Sorice, a survivor of dating violence.

Besides the educational programs in local schools, the DVSSP is hoping to raise awareness through a video contest.

The contest is part of a national campaign about saying “no more to teen dating violence.”

Those who choose to participate in the contest are asked to film a 2-5 minute long video about the importance of teens saying no to dating violence. Participants can film a video either individually or in a group, but must have their videos submitted to dvsspgreene@peacefromdv.org by Feb. 23. A $100 cash prize will be awarded to the most creative group and the most creative individual, while a $50 cash prize will be given to the runner-up in each category.

The idea to hold a video contest came to be because technology can often play a harmful role in abusive relationships and can make everything more complicated, said McCready.

“It’s all about power and control,” said McCready.

Instead of allowing technology to play a harmful role, the Greene County office of DVSSP wanted to have a way that technology could be helpful.

See VIOLENCE on B4

students as they file out the door at 8:30 p.m.

“I’ll see you next week!” shouts Bushra as she walks out the door.

“I’ll be looking forward to it!” Conklin shouts back.

Conklin then shuts the door and sits down in the gathering room.

The other residents have already headed back to their rooms.

She’s alone again. ___

She sits quietly in the large, pale green gathering room of the Bridge Street Commons assissted living apartment complex. As two other residents enter the room, she anxiously looks at her watch.

It’s 5:38 p.m. on a crisp, cool Friday evening in February.

As she raises her head, she sees what she’s been waiting for. Five students from the local college come hustling On most days, Conklin sits into the building. quietly in the living room of “Sorry we’re late,” said ju- her one bedroom apartment. nior biblical studies major The room has a faint smell James Glisan. of a flowery perfume; the “That’s okay! I’m just so walls are covered in famhappy to see you guys,” she ily pictures, children’s VHS responds. tapes covered in dust are For 84-year old, Greene lined up on a book shelf beCounty native Audrey Conk- hind her and an old record lin, this is the best part of her player detectably plays some week. She welcomes each Merle Haggard. student with a hug.

The walls that The students then surround her resit down at the large flect the love she square table in the has toward all room, while one of the people that the other residents she has come in grabs Bibles. contact with.

Junior psycholBut now she ogy major Nermeen sits here alone.

Bushra sits next to All of those who Conklin and finds used to surround today’s passage for her are either Conklin her in her personal, gone or can no well-highlighted Bible filled longer find the time to visit. with many small pieces of Conklin grew up here in paper – obituaries of those Greene County. she’s lost.

This town is the only place As Glisan begins the les- she knows. She grew up with son for the day, Conklin her brother Donald and her grabs Nermeen’s hand. mother.

“She’s like a daughter to Her father passed away me,” says Conklin. “She’s al- from complications from a ways willing to spend time burst appendix when she was with me.” only 15 months old.

Today’s devotion comes Though she experienced from the book of Habakkuk. the loss of her father at an Glisan reads a few verses, early age, she still felt plenty then enters into a discussion of love growing up. about the struggles of life.

“My mother was a strong “Does anyone have mo- lady,” said Conklin. “She ments in life when they just always made us feel loved feel alone?” asked Glisan. and safe. I spent plenty of “Every day,” responded years playing outside with Conklin. my brother and our friends.

“But on days like this I I had a pretty good childdon’t,” she adds as she looks hood.” over at Bushra and tightens Conklin’s face brightens her hold on Bushra’s hand. with pure joy for a moment The evening continues on at the thought of all the with a dinner prepared by childhood memories, but it the students and is followed quickly fades. by a movie picked out by a “They’re all gone now,” she resident named Rose. says quietly.

As the movie ends, it is There once was a time in time for the students to leave. Conklin’s life when she felt Conklin stands at the door and gives hugs to the See ALONE on B4

THE MATHER MINE - PART THREE

Mather area moving forward with mine reclamation

By CHELSEA DICKS Managing Editor

The black mounds contrast oddly with the hills of green foliage.

A dark monster, still on fire, comes out of the ground for hundreds of feet only to disappear behind the trees and houses making it seem normal.

Many do not even notice them, those out-of-place remnants of the past.

The old fences surrounding the 70-acre area are old, falling apart but still have a couple of faded orange NO TRESSPASSING signs hanging by a nail.

Many local people can attest to exploring past those fences, standing on top of the black monster, taking a few steps and watching the figure of the mounds change beneath them as pieces fall off the side and tumble over themselves onto the ground.

They have been there since the early 1900’s, looming over the town of Mather as a reminder of a time that has come and gone.

A reminder of when Mather was headquarters for the booming coal industry.

A reminder of why the small town was created in the first place.

A reminder of the explosion that changed many locals’ lives and the coal industry forever.

Even though the mine closed in 1964, the refuse coal piles continue to be.

But organizations have come together to reclaim the abandoned mine and try to create an area that is safe and once again enjoyable for the people of the community.

With this new year the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Environmental

Protection, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, have started working on the almost $1.6 million project.

The purpose of the project is to create a safe and healthy area within the old Mather Mine and also the closely proximate, Ryerson Station State Park where currently neither of these attributes exist according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection contract for the bid.

“This reclamation project will remove a decades old refuse pile that has been an eyesore and safety hazard for the residents of Mather,” DEP Deputy Secretary for Active and Abandoned Mine Operations John Stefanko said. “The DEP is pleased to work with its partners in the legislature, other state agencies and the See MINE on B4

Chelsea Dicks, Yellow Jacket

Right in front of the entrance into the old mine, this sign sits as a reminder to those entering the area that things are beginning to change.

Yellow Jacket

Page B2

January 19, 2015

Don't hate; instead, appreciate the cafeteria A Student News Publication Since 1924

Editorial Executive Editor Nick Farrell Managing Editors Chelsea Dicks

Kimmi Baston

Jacob Meyer Sports Editor Rob Longo Asst. Sports Editor Carson Fox Op/Ed Editor Samantha Peer Copy Editors Rebecca Burcham

Luisa Singletary Editorial Assistants Lucas Campbell

Matt Koll

Kyle Dawson

Danielle Schuyler

Yurika Blevins

Mitchell Kendra Multimedia Manager J.D. Lydic Multimedia Team Nika Anschuetz

Creg Milko Graphic Design Editor Brittany Semco Asst. Design Editor Megan Potosky Chief Photographer Abby Wernert Convergence Editor Jenny Schouppe Advertising Director Kara Bemer Asst. Advertising Director Adam Tapparo

Advisors Richard Krause Brandon Szuminsky Editorials in the left-hand column represent the views of the Yellow Jacket. Letters from readers, columns, cartoons and other elements on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect the position of this newspaper and university.

editorials

Assessing the day Though not an official day-off, it is valuable

Upon discovering that there are no classes on Assessment Day, we initially think we will be given a free day. But as many of us know, this is not reality for this day. Assessment Day is filled with math tests, logic tests, meetings and more meetings, no matter what department you are in.With this outlook in hand, students become salty.

They complain about the activities on the schedule and about the fact that even though they don’t have classes, they still have a full day. In other words, the connotation that comes along with this day among students is usually not good.

But Assessment Day is a very beneficial experience for both the faculty and the students. As we reported in our last issue, this day strengthens Waynesburg University in many

ways. One way is through the students, as Assessment Day lets all of us have a voice. Our opinions are listened to; what you say has power to change your department for the better.

Another way that Assessment Day strengthens the university as a whole is that it shows faculty and administration where the university’s strengths and weaknesses are.

This day is used to make this campus better; and come on, even though it is not a free day, it is still a break from routine, which is always nice. Learn to suck it up and realize that as adults, we are going to have to do some things that we don’t want to for the sake of the “greater good.” Stop picturing the day as a free day – that is not what it is nor will it ever be. Instead, do your part to make this university as good as it can be.

NIKA ANSCHUETZ Columnist

Have you ever worked in the foodservice industry? Whether it is fast food or a sit-down restaurant, the food industry can be extremely demanding.

Food service workers experience an enormous amount of pressure from customers and grandfather time.

For example, imagine you are a cook. More specifically, imagine you are a cook at an establishment that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There are no “slow” days, except maybe on the weekends.

This establishment serves anywhere from 350-450 people in two hours.

Keep in mind that some restaurants don’t serve that many people during the day, let alone in a two hour time period. In case you have not figured it out yet, I am alluding to the cafeteria. Though

many students complain that the food at the cafeteria lacks quality, none acknowledge what a challenge it is to feed such a large amount of people in such a small amount of time while catering to allergies and intolerances. It is no secret that college students will find anything to complain about.

From the coursework in their classes to the food in the cafe, students never run out of things to complain about.

I hear people complain about the cafe on almost a daily basis. It used to never bother me but as of late it’s become extremely annoying.

I cannot imagine what it’s like cooking for four hundred people twice every day.

Let us just take a step back and try to wrap our minds around what it means to cook for such a large volume of people. It is not like a normal restaurant, where things are made-to-order and people order off a menu. In high school I worked for several food service establishments. I worked

for a pizza place as well as Dairy Queen. Food service is a tough industry. We would get overwhelmed when a bus of thirty high school students would show up, so I cannot image attempting to serve one hundred hungry college students.

One of the common things I hear from students is, “I paid $30,000 for this cereal.” This probably my number one pet peeve. No, you did not pay $30,000 for that bowl of cereal. At most, you probably paid $11 for that bowl of cereal. Eleven dollars for a bowl of cereal is steep, but it is not nearly as outlandish as saying you paid $30,000. Not to mention that you probably got a drink, which would cost $1.99 at a restaurant. Your $11 bowl of cereal just turned into a $9 bowl of cereal.

Each meal at Aladdin costs roughly $11 -15. At a sit down restaurant, you would not get nearly as much food for the same price. Buffets run anywhere from $10 - 20. We are

getting a pretty good deal for an all you can eat buffet.

Sure, the food is not always the best, but it is still edible.

There are going to be times where things are not cooked to perfection; it happens. We are college kids. We do not deserve the creme de la creme of meals. We are not eating gourmet food. Face it, most of us cannot afford gourmet food.

Stop complaining about the dining hall. Just because you do not like what they are serving does not mean someone else does not. It is statistically improbable that any establishment would cook something that everyone likes every single day. Be thankful that we have live in a country where food is of great abundance.

We should be thankful for the hard work the Aladdin does for the university. These men and women spend hours preparing and cooking our meals; the least we could do is show them a little appreciation.

Gun-related deaths not an issue easily resolved Jacob meyer Columnist

Have you ever looked at something you did or said a year ago and wondered: “Who the heck was I?” I hope so. If not, you’re not changing enough. It takes a lot of internal fortitude to admit you’re wrong. This is especially tough for me, considering it happens so very rarely (I kid, I kid).

But, here we go...A little more than a year ago, I wrote a column for The Yellow Jacket about gun control.

An 18-year-old kid, trying to tackle an issue no one else

can figure out and call for change.

Now at the ripe old age of 19, let’s try again and look back at what the heck I was thinking a year ago. In the column, I opened about a shooting at the mall in my hometown that had recently occurred. You never really grasp an idea or concept until it happens to you.

No one I knew was injured in the shooting, but I knew several people who were in the mall that same day the shooting happened.

Here was my first mistake: I let my emotions get the best of me. I used to do this all the time playing baseball when I was younger – and still do now. I let my emo-

tions take over my brain and it affects my performance. I let it influence my opinion and my column because my heart was talking more than my brain. This story being so close to home made me emotional about the issue, which in turn caused me to be less logical and thoughtful on the issue. I hope my future self lets my brain do the thinking and my emotions do the feeling. My next mistake was thinking regulation could be imposed to fix the issue.

I used stats that hit the heart of those reading to realize how many people die each year in the United States from gun violence. I said it’s unacceptable to let the insanity of gun violence

continue. I asserted the government should make it harder to purchase a gun. I opined that people who want to commit crimes and people who are psychologically unstable should have a harder time purchasing guns.

The Jacob of today knows people who want to commit crimes do not purchase guns legally anyway, so my previous argument wasn’t as strong as I thought.

Maybe making it harder to purchase guns will help reduce some of the crimes for those who are psychologically unstable, but several other things need to be done to help those people See MEDIA on B3

WU rich in history

In honor of Charter Day, discover WU's roots Why do you celebrate your birthday? Is it just to get presents? Or is it to remember the day you were born--the reasons you’ve been able to become everything you are today? Without always realizing it, we celebrate history every day, because as a society, we realize that events in the past have shaped our lives and actions today. But in the case of Waynesburg University, history is something many students tend to be ignorant of.

Many students know the stories of A.B. and Margaret Miller, of Miller Hall, and the fingerprints in the bricks.

However, there’s more than a century and a half of history to be recognized on Waynesburg’s campus: The university was the second in the nation to allow women to graduate with degrees. The Christian mission that came into existence when the Cumberland Presbyterians founded the college in 1849 has been rediscovered and binds us together today.

Previous students, presidents and trustees have hugely impacted not only life at Waynesburg University, but also the lives of those around the country and world with their accomplishments. The university is approaching its 166th anniversary, and as such, it’s a perfect opportunity to focus on what has shaped the campus community over the years.

As we get closer to Charter Day, make some time to find out about the history of the university – maybe the development of your department or who funded the building you live in. Looking at our past might just help you give more meaning to life at Waynesburg. It often gives understanding of how the university functions and why we live the way we do.

It’s only by examining our yesterdays that we can truly discover how we’ve made it to today. Combine the past, present and future and make the best out of your Waynesburg career.

Newspaper policy The Yellow Jacket is the student-operated newspaper of Waynesburg University funded by student fees and advertisements and is intended for the entire college community. The Yellow Jacket is produced by the student staff on a weekly basis during the academic year. The office of the Yellow Jacket is located in room 400 of Buhl Hall. It is the right of the Yellow Jacket to print all material deemed newsworthy and gathered in a fair and unconditional manner. No advance copies of stories will be shown, and reporters' notes are considered confidential. No "off the record" information will be accepted. advertising policy Anyone wishing to advertise in the Yellow Jacket should email the advertising director at jacketads@waynesburg.edu.

Ads must be submitted by the Monday before publication date and not conflict with the university mission.

Walking by Faith: Jamie Jacobs Editor's Note: The following is an interview with Jamie Jacobs, dean for institutional effectiveness and planning, as part of a series of weekly conversations with members of the campus community about living out vocational faith.

By SAMANTHA PEER Op/Ed Editor

Q: When did you first come to Waynesburg University, and what led you here?

A: I came in February of 2014. I have always wanted to be at a liberal arts college and Waynesburg University embodies all of those things.

As a workplace, Waynesburg University is wonderful. I have terrific colleagues, I have wonderful students, and we have an amazing administration from the top down. It was a moment where the thing that I wanted for myself seemed to be in line with what Waynesburg University wanted from me.

Q: How do you demonstrate your faith in your

position at Waynesburg University?

A: One of the things that I think is important for me to do is to live and to work in a way that embodies the values that flow from being a Christian.

You never have to say a word to people about what you believe and you can live a life that shows people what you believe.

One of the most important things that I can do is to work from a position of humility and to think about kindness to others and to try to really just embody the values that I hold.

I’ve lived all over the world; I’ve been to services of all different kinds of things. Everyone is on their own journey. That’s what I really believe – people are walking their own path. Not everybody’s going to be on my path, but I can be faithful to my own path and I can help people, especially students, to think about where their path started and where they want it to go. I think everybody’s relationship with their faith is their own. I can’t tell you what to do, but I can help you ask the questions to figure out what to

do. That’s what part of my role is in the classroom. I’m here to help people figure things out for themselves. As an educator, it’s easier for me for those values to come through. As a dean, it’s just always making sure to live my values – deeds done with humility and wisdom.

Q: Have there been any moments with staff or students that have touched you spiritually or affirmed your faith?

A: One thing was during the Middlestates process, when we were working hard and were trying to do our best to represent this university, so many people stopped by just

to pray with us and for us. It was amazing. That was from professors and staff members.

Somebody came down and said, “I have seen you and Dr. Core working and I know how hard you’re working and I just want to hold hands with you guys and pray for you for a minute.” I have never been in a place where people were that supportive. The way that people came together to pray for strength and support as a way for people to show that we’re all working together and working toward this common goal, that’s what makes this institution great. Accreditation is one of the most mundane and non-spiritual experiences you See FAITH on B3

Letters to the editor Letters to the editor are encouraged as a method to bring issues of concern into the public eye. Letters should be typed, limited to 300 words, signed and include a phone number for confirmation. Letters may be submitted to 400 Buhl Hall, sent to the Yellow Jacket via campus mail or via email to jacket@waynesburg.edu. Letters may also be sent to Yellow Jacket, 400 Buhl Hall, Waynesburg University, 51 W. College St., Waynesburg, Pa. 15370. All letters must be received by 5 p.m. the Monday of any publication week.

Yellow Jacket

January 19, 2015

Page B3

Cheat Sheet: Copenhagen suffers terrorist attack Editor's Note: The following is a synopsis of a recent topic trending in world or national news.

On Saturday, Feb 14, while people from all parts of the world were expressing their love for one another, Copenhagen, Denmark was caught off guard by a terrorist attack.

Starting in a café during a speech on freedom, a gunman shot and killed a man and then later at a synagogue shot and killed a Jewish night guard.

At the end of the day, two innocent people were dead and five police officers were injured.

Copenhagen police finally cornered the gunman, and upon their returning fire, the gunman was killed early Sunday morning.

Omar Abdel Hamid ElHussein is the suspect, but the New York Times reported that the police have not confirmed the body as being El-Hussein.

El-Hussein was a 22-yearold who the New York Times reported was a former gang member. But there is little belief that the attack is linked to any terrorist organization.

According to the Daily Beast, El-Hussein “was released from jail just two weeks ago.” The Big Story

Courtesy of MCT Campus

Police cordon off the scene as they investigate the terror attacks in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Feb. 15.

reported “El-Hussein was arrested 15 months ago in a vicious knife attack on a train passenger, and while he was awaiting trial, a change in his behavior last summer set off

enough “alarm bells” for jail authorities to alert PET, Denmark’s counter-terror agency, a source close to the investigation told AP.” El-Hussein had a history of dangerous

crimes, but after behavioral changes, he was released.

While ABC News reported there were “no signs the gunman was part of a wider terror cell, Danish Prime

Minister Helle ThorningSchmidt said,” the New York Times reported that the Copenhagen police “identified him only as a 22-year-old, born and raised in Denmark,

whom they knew for gangrelated activity and for several criminal offenses linked to weapons violations and violence.”

ABC reported that the “attacks appeared to be terrorism based upon the targets.”

The shooting was referred to as Denmark’s “worst burst of terrorism in decades,” according to the New York Times.

The Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, said during a press conference: “Let me be clear: the attack on the Jewish minority in Denmark is an attack on all of Denmark.”

As Thorning-Schmidt continued, she spoke about the people who have passed by the scene and shown their sorrow for the lives of those affected by the shooting.

The Big Story reported that 30,000 people showed up to Krudttoenden cultural center in order to pay their respects to the victims.

On Monday, two men were arresting due to the suspicion that they had helped El-Hussein get rid of his weapons.

– ABC News, The New York Times and the Big Story, Feb. 16 Information curated by MITCHELL KENDRA For the Yellow Jacket

In the news: Ten headlines you need to know this week Editor's Note: The following is a summary of the 10 stories from last week that a college student needs to know.

1. Egypt launches airstrikes against ISIS On Monday, Feb. 16, Egypt launched airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) targets in Libya after the group released a video declaring to show the beheading of several Coptic Christians who have been held hostage for weeks. Libya’s air force announced it had launched strikes in the eastern city of Darna, which had been taken over by ISIS last year. The video claiming to show the beheadings was released late Sunday by militants in Libya associated with ISIS. CBS News says that the makers of the video identified themselves as the Tripoli Province of ISIS. Pope Francis denounced the slayings, saying the Egyptian Coptic Christians were “assassinated just for being Christians.” ISIS has been holding 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian laborers hostage since December, but it is not clear whether all 21 hostages were killed in the video.

–CBS News, Feb. 16 2. Aggressive new strain of HIV in Cuba According to CBS News, scientists have discovered a

highly aggressive new strain of HIV in Cuba that develops into full-blown AIDS three times faster than more common strains of the virus. This discovery could have serious public health consequences for efforts to contain and reduce incidences of the virus worldwide. The HIV strain can turn into AIDS within two to three years of exposure to the virus, according to researchers at the University of Leuven in Belgium.

Normally, HIV takes up to ten years to turn into AIDS. Anyone who has contracted the HIV strain may get sick before they even know they have been infected, which means there’s a shorter amount of time to stop the disease.

–CBS News, Feb. 16 3. West Virginia train derails

On Monday, Feb. 16, a train carrying oil derailed in southern West Virginia, sending at least one tanker into the Kanawha River and sparking a house fire, according to CBS News. It was said that there were no reported injuries. State emergency and environmental officials responded to the scene.

West Virginia’s Governor, Earl Ray Tomblin, declared a state of emergency for Fayette and Kanawha counties.

According to CBS, several shelters were opened to accommodate those who live

in the area.

–CBS News, Feb. 16

4. False gunman scares many at LAX Airport According to ABC News, a mistaken public announcement of a gunman being loose at a Los Angeles International Airport terminal sent roughly 20 passengers fleeing from the gate area and onto the tarmac on Monday, Feb. 16. The false announcement came from a police activity outside Terminal 2, where officers pursued an unarmed driver to the departures level.

ABC News’ website says that police had responded to an emergency call around 9 a.m. that a man may be trying to commit suicide on airport property. They apprehended the man and the fire department took him to a hospital for treatment. Someone said that there was a man with a gun, which was not true. The officers had everything under control within 15 minutes.

–ABC News, Feb. 16 5. Singer-songwriter Lesley Gore dies at 68 Singer-songwriter Lesley Gore died on Monday, Feb. 16, at the age of 68. Gore’s song “It’s My Party” topped the charts in 1963, followed by “Judy’s Turn to Cry” and “You Don’t Own Me.” Gore passed away of cancer at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, accord-

ing to her partner of 33 years, Lois Sasson.

–CBS News, Feb. 16 6. House destroyed in fire in Aleppo Township

On Sunday, Feb. 15, a man’s farmhouse was destroyed by a fire. He escaped unharmed, but lost everything in the blaze, according to the Observer-Reporter.

The owner left the house without a coat or shoes, but his neighbor took him in and the Red Cross was called to provide him with the things he needed. The fire department was called around 4:30 a.m. early Sunday, but by the time they came, the house was already engulfed in flames.

–Observer-Reporter, Feb. 16 7. Gambling problem increasing in Pittsburgh According to Channel 4 News, their investigation has discovered a dramatic increase in problem gambling because some just can’t help themselves. According to the national council on problem gambling, 280,000 people met the criteria for gambling addiction in Pennsylvania in 2013.

Pennsylvania’s first casino opened in 2006 and in less than a decade, the state has skyrocketed to the second largest gaming state in the country. In 2013, Pennsylva-

nia’s Gaming Industry generated a total of $3.1 billion in total revenue and nearly $1.4 billion in state and local taxes, Channel 4 News states. Only a small amount of people go to compulsive and problem gambling treatment. In 2010, seven gamblers were banned from casinos. According to Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board, the number is up to 296 today.

–WTAE, Feb. 16

8. 6.8 Earthquake hits off the coast of Japan A powerful 6.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Japan. The epicenter of the earthquake was 77 kilometers (48 miles) east-northeast of Miyako, Japan. According to CNN, the quake was ten kilometers (6.2 miles) deep and occurred at 6:06 a.m. Tuesday in Japan (6:06 p.m. ET Monday).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat from the earthquake, but Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory due to strong currents.

–CNN News, Feb. 16 9. Banks trying to prevent credit card fraud All credit cards have a magnetic strip on the back, in which your personal information is received when you swipe your card. According to WPXI, banks are issuing credit cards with small

embedded computer chips known as EMV technology.

Instead of a magnetic strip, your information is stored on a chip, making it more difficult for hackers to get your information. WPXI says that industry experts think that

by October, 70 percent of credit cards and 40 percent of debit cards in the U.S. will have EMV chips. However, it will take retailers longer to receive specially designed EMV readers.

–WPXI, Feb. 16 10. Lawsuits claim car insurance running scheme According to WPXI, auto body shops across the country claim that big insurance companies have been skimping on repairs to pad their profits. More than 500 shops are suing dozens of insurance companies. Some owners of the body shops believe that insurance companies are involved in the scheme to send customers to pre-selected shops where the bare minimum is done to fix your car, says Channel 11. Channel 11 also mentions that the lawsuits claim that insurers are even telling the shops to use used or recycled parts because they’re cheaper.

–WPXI, Feb. 16 Information curated by YURIKA BLEVINS For the Yellow Jacket

Faith: Jamie Jacobs Gun: Less guns is not the answer can have, but at that moment, it really showed how our spiritual life here ties us together and it makes us great.

Q: What do you find yourself needing to be reminded of?

A: Not everything happens on my schedule – to be patient and to listen for guidance about what needs to happen. I think its easy when we’re looking at accreditation, for example, to say, “I know what needs to happen,” because there are these external roles. We need to remember to listen for what God wants us to do and not necessarily get so wrapped up in what we have to do.

Q: Do you feel you are where God wants you to be?

A: Absolutely. I think I kind of, for a long time, thought about where I was supposed to be and what was the sign of a

successful academic life. When I stopped trying to adhere to all of that and kind of ‘let go and let God’ and was able to make this leap to Waynesburg, I think it’s been the best choice for me. I think this is where I need to be. I can’t say that I would have been able to come earlier because I don’t know that I would have been ready.

I might not have been ready to do it sooner – I had to wait until the moment was right. I do believe I’m at the place where I need to be. I feel like there’s a lot of good work to be done here. Waynesburg University is a wonderful place that has such a strong foundation, and the things that we’re doing now are really finding ways to communicate all the good stuff that’s happening here. The way I get motivated to deal with all the assessment is that it’s for us to show, in a language that other people understand, all the good stuff that we have going on here.

other than gun control, and I only have a certain amount of column inches, so let’s not go there. Increasing the barriers to entry in business creates fewer business and therefore less innovation and competition and higher prices. Hopefully we can all agree that all of those things are not good for society.

So, how will barriers to entry for buying guns work?

People who don’t need guns – everyday citizens – will not go through the trouble of buying guns.

The process will be so convoluted, complicated and time-consuming – because when the government gets involved, that’s what happens – that many people will not own guns and will not be able to defend themselves if they are put in a dangerous situation.More barriers to entry will make society less safe and worse off.

Lastly, two previous flaws in my original argument are two separate statements that make me gag and want to go back in time and punch myself in the face. (Breathe).

The first one is “I am for state rights on many issues, but when it comes to gun control it needs to be a national issue.” Eww. Dude, c’mon. I may wash my mouth out with soap now for writing that a year ago.

How will a small group of about 500 plus people make a fair and informed decision for all 50 states? It just isn’t feasible. At worst, it should be a state issue.

States are better at making laws that more speak on behalf of the people than the national government.The next statement may be even worse. “I want to believe fewer guns means fewer deaths.” Dude, really?

Fewer guns does not mean fewer deaths. It ac-

tually could mean the opposite. It’s understandable why most people believe fewer guns equates to fewer deaths. If fewer people have guns, then fewer people will shoot and kill. But, guns aren’t just for killing. They’re for protection.

Firearms are the great equalizer. If someone breaks into my house tonight, my 55-year-old, 5-foot-tall mother would have no chance to defend herself against, most likely, a man trying to commit a crime.

If she is armed, though, that guy who broke in is either taking the chance of getting shot or leaving the house immediately.

She wouldn’t even have to shoot.

Just the sight, maybe just the thought, of a firearm prevents someone trying to commit a crime.

We can’t prevent the majority of the people who

want to kill from killing before they attempt to kill.

Today, though, when they attempt to kill, they are shooting at a bunch of unarmed people who can’t defend themselves against someone who has a gun.

If we arm teachers, security guards in movie theaters and on college campuses, then more innocent lives could potentially be spared.

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that 18-year-old control freak Jacob Meyer cannot fix this issue.

Only we can fix this issue.

Sure, we can say that we are the government, but we all know that’s a loaded phrase that isn’t true.

Individual people, making individual choices for their own safety and liberty is the only way to make the United States safer while still standing on the principles this nation was founded upon.

Yellow Jacket

Page B4

February 19, 2015

Bird counts in area down lately due to freezing weather

By TIM NERAL

For the Yellow Jacket

For some people, when they hear the sound of a bird singing it does more then make them think how beautiful it sounds.

With just a note from an unknown place, to the trained bird-watching ear, they can pinpoint exactly what kind of bird it is.

The hobby of bird-watching is one that many locals have taken up in the area.

Unlike other hobbies, bird-watching requires a lot of dedication to become good.

“Some will say, ‘Well, this bird was near the water.’ Well, was it in the creek or next to the creek?” said Marge Howard, a dedicated bird enthusi-

ast and creator of the Ralph K. Bell bird club.

“I’m glad Bell got me involved. He passed away last May and he was a great man.

He was one-of-a-kind.”

The club focuses on teaching people about birds, taking bird walks around the county and learning how to properly identify different species.

There are many ways to identify a bird and to do this precise details are very important.

“By size, was it robin-sized or crow-sized? Where was the black? Where was the white? Was it white-chested?

Did it have a cap or a tuft on the top of his head? These things are very helpful,” said Howard.

Howard also admitted that

“You could know nothing and go on a walk and pick up on a couple things. I've learned by listening to tapes and by experiencing with other people.”

MARGE HOWARD

Avid bird watcher

you don’t pick up on all these things right away. To train the ears and the eyes it takes time.

“You could know nothing and go on a walk and pick up on a couple things,” said Howard.

“I’ve learned by listening to tapes and by experiencing with other people.”

Over the course of the last two months, Howard’s bird counts have been down.

“I watch different bird feeders from an hour to six

to seven hours, spending time off and on throughout the day,” said Howard.

“Lots of feeders are cold but that brings out a lot of birds. During January, it was so cold and that’s why you see a dip in their numbers.

During the Christmas bird counts, they weren’t coming in because they didn’t need to” The Ralph K. Bell bird club also met this past Thursday and listened to a presentation from Dr. Carol Bocetti from

the department of biological and environmental sciences at California University of Pennsylvania.

She works on many projects but her lecture focused on the Kairtland’s Warbler.

“She’s spent many years on this. Started as a graduate student,” said Howard.

The Kairtland’s Warbler only breeds in central and southern Michigan and small part of Wisconsin because it likes a specific type of tree known as a Jack pine.

During her years of research, Dr. Bocetti managed to get the species’ numbers up.

“Two years ago, three of us went to Mio, Michigan and went on a tour to Jack Pines and you could hear it calling.

The last day, we went back

out and saw it that day. The male’s breast is the color of a lemon, just a vibrant yellow," said Howard.

Howard said it’s important that new generations notice these and other amazing birds.

“I have a 4-year-old grandson. I have a chair and birdfeeders outside my window and I started with cardinals.

I tried to explain the brown was the female, but he can pick out the cardinals and tell him that he saw cardinals.”

Now Howard’s teaching him about blue jays and hopes that an interest in the wildlife will sprak in the young boy.

To learn more about the Ralph K. Bell bird club and what they offer, contact rkbbirdclub@yahoo.com.

Alone: Local woman continues Violence: Raising awareness for dating violence amongst local teens to love even with no return Continued from B1

someone would never leave her.

“I remember our first date like it was just yesterday,” said Conklin.

At 17 years old, she went out with girlfriends to a local hangout spot and met a 21-year-old man named Ralph.

“I’d like to take you out for ice cream,” Conklin remembers Ralph saying.

He s i t a nt l y, C o n k l i n agreed.

The next night, Ralph picked her up at her house and took her for an ice cream cone.

“I remember I was so nervous that when I got into his jeep, I tripped on the step of the jeep and fell right into the seat,” laughed Audrey. “Luckily he didn’t see it!”

Ralph was a gentleman.

He opened doors, pulled out seats and said “yes sir” and “no thank you ma’am.”

He was a bit of a cowboy, but was able to win Audrey over with his charm.

Arriving home that night, she told her mother that she would marry Ralph.

“I just fell in love with him,” said Conklin, smiling.

The two dated for three years before getting married.

The newlyweds did not waste any time and quickly had five children. Life was good for Conklin.

“We had 13 really good years together,” Conklin remembers.

Conklin was pregnant with her sixth child when Ralph’s attitude suddenly

changed.

He began to spend time with a rough crowd and started staying out till all hours of the night drinking.

Conklin ended up losing the baby halfway through her pregnancy, and Ralph began drinking more and caring less.

“It started once every month, then once every two weeks, than it was every [darn] day,” said Conklin.

“He was barely home for the kids and he missed out on a lot.”

Ralph would work until noon, when he would then end up at a local bar.

The drinking led to multiple affairs and a dozen or so nights filled with physical and emotional abuse to Conklin.

Even after all of that, Conklin never left her husband.

“I made a promise when I married him,” said Conklin.

“I would never leave him.”

The drinking, affairs and abuse continued on for years.

The kids grew up and moved away, and Conklin was left alone to deal with Ralph.

She eventually had enough, and for her safety moved into a trailer in the back yard.

During this time, Ralph was diagnosed with lung cancer at 75 years old.

Too stubborn to get treatment, the doctors gave him only months to live.

“After the diagnosis, it was the first time in many years that I saw him sober. We were finally able to talk and reconcile,” said Conklin.

“Though there was so

Mine: Reclamation to enhance Mather area Continued from B1

local government of Greene County to make this happen.”

The first step in the reclamation process that is currently being operated is the removal of soil from the dry lakebed of Ryerson Station State Park’s, Duke Lake.

The soil from this dried lake bed is being transported to the Mather Mine and is covering the large mounds created by the tiny pieces of refuse coal.

State officials stated that the plan is to use around 400,000 cubic yards of Duke Lake’s soil to try and create a more eye pleasing and healthier environment for those living in Mather.

The soil from the lake has been tested and deemed “clean fill.”

DEP is providing an additional $2 million for the transportation of this dirt from the lake to the refuse piles.

“The project is a great example of state agencies working together, as DCNR

needed a place to put silt removed from Duke Lake and DEP was looking to complete the mine reclamation work to the Mather site,” said DCNR Secretary Ellen Ferretti. “We’re pleased that the lake sediments can be used constructively.”

Even though other initiatives to reclaim the mine have come and gone, this time the trucks can already be seen working on top of the black mounds.

This time, change is happening.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

Mather will soon no longer have the visual reminder of everything that happened there, no more black mounds cutting through the landscape.

No more health problems caused by the refuse coal piles.

The memories of the coal industry and what Mather used to be will live on in the pictures and the memories that are past down from generation to generation.

No more because it is time to move forward.

Continued from B1

much pain and hurt between us, I loved him until the day he died.” ___

It is a Monday night, and Conklin sits quietly in her living room. She stares at the walls covered in her family photos.

She glances at a picture of her oldest daughter, who passed away years ago. She looks at pictures of her other four children, three who have not visited in years and one who occasionally checks in on her.

She smiles at the pictures of the grandchildren. Some she’s met, others she has not.

The grandchildren who once watched the old VHS tapes are now almost old enough to have their own kids.

They are all too busy to make the time to visit. Occasionally she’ll get phone calls and cards, but nothing as good as a visit.

She now depends on the visits from the local college students.

Every Friday, she waits until 5:30 p.m. to finally feel like she is wanted.

Sadly, Conklin knows that this too will fade.

Most of those students who visit are juniors, and within another year will be graduating and moving on in life.

But for now, all she can do is wait – wait for Friday at 5:30 p.m. where she can feel not alone and for three hours forget that these young adults, like so many others in her life, will also eventually leave her.

Courtesy of Cheryl McCready

Events are taking place at many of the local high schools where students are educated on what an unhealthy relationship looks like.

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While the video contest may end this month, the Greene County office of DVSSP is always working to raise awareness of teen dating violence – working to prevent it as well as help victims of dating violence.

The organization has a 24-hour hotline as well as a shelter for victims in both Washington County and Fayette County.

The Greene County office of DVSSP also offers support groups, prevention programs and empowerment counseling.

According to the DVSSP website, www.peacefromdv. org, “DVSSP strives to increase awareness, empower victims and work for change.”

“It’s so prevalent,” said McCready. “We say we’re feminists and liberated women, but it’s so difficult for a woman, even in 2015, to come forward and say they’re a victim.”

McCready said the organization started having education programs in schools to stop the cycle of children growing up in abusive households and thinking that is the only life there is.

“We recognized it was a problem. We decided we needed to have education programs,” said McCready.

According to McCready, the organization is always willing to come and speak to other organizations and groups to discuss something they are passionate about – raising awareness of teen dating violence and how they are working to help end it.

Women's basketball team scores big win at Bethany with PAC Tournament on the horizon.

See C3

SECTION C

FEBRUARY 19, 2015 | WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY | WWW.THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG

Waynesburg's double trouble Fleegle, Propst first teammates to hit 1,000-point since 2006-07 season

points in a game at home against the Thiel Tomcats, culminating with a steal and “I got fouled when I was breakaway lay-in. two points away,” said senior The ironic thing is, both men’s basketball player Jacob Fleegle and Propst reached Fleegle. “I made the first one, the 1,000-point milestone and I got so nervous before I exactly in their respective shot the second one. I missed games. it. But, fortunately, I got a “It was a cool experience steal and had a breakaway because I didn’t get to do it in lay-up and made it to pass high school because I trans1,000.” ferred schools,” said Propst.

This Jennerstown, Penn- “If anything else, it shows sylvania native was one what this team has accomof two players on his high plished together. I couldn’t school team to reach the have done this without all the 1,000-point threshguys.” old, and the Yellow JACKETS B e t w e e n Jackets’ senior capt h e p a i r, t h e tain is now one of EXTEND WIN importance of the two Waynesburg STREAK team is a common players to reach SEE C2 thread. that same mark “It’s always been this year; thus, beabout the team,” coming the 33rd player in said Fleegle. “The personal Waynesburg men’s basketball milestone is really a team history to hit the milestone. achievement that shows up Fleegle did so on a nine- for one player. It’s a cherry foot jumper in the waning on the top to what has been minutes of the team’s win at a lot of team success over the Bethany Saturday. He had last few years.” entered the game needing 17 “Every year since they’ve points, and that basket gave been here, their win total has him exactly that. improved,” said head coach “Getting it in high school Mark Christner, highlighting was an honor, and it’s an the team accomplishment honor now,” said Fleegle. inside the individual mile“Being able to do it the same stone. “It’s pretty cool to have year as Jason [Propst] makes two in the same year from it even more special.” the team’s standpoint. It’s a Fleegle is not the only Jack- team recognition, there’s no et to score 1,000 points in his question about it, but to do it Waynesburg career this sea- in the way they did makes it son. Back on Jan. 14, Fleegle’s even better.” teammate and roommate It has been eight years Jason Propst reached the See TWINS on C2 milestone by scoring 10

By KYLE DAWSON

Editorial Assistant

Giuliani's work ethic Wrestling's bid for third straight titled ruined keeps Jackets motivated Jackets place third at PAC Championship behind Thiel, Wash & Jeff throughout her entire career Sports Editorial Assistant at Waynesburg.

She has apNestled b epeared in each of tween one of her the 110 games that arms and her side the Jackets have normally rests a played in since the basketball, as she 2011-12 season. st rol l s arou n d “It’s been a blesscampus; whether ing to have this opit be to classes, to portunity,” said Githe cafeteria or to uliani. “Basketball the gymnasium. takes a toll on you, The transitional but I have been Giuliani period from a high fortunate to not school senior to starting once have sustained any major again at the bottom of the to- injuries. I’ve worked hard to tem pole is normally a dif- stay in shape and take care of ficult one. my body.”

That transition for senior But this feat has been acguard Hayden Giuliani was companied with several ups made seamless, as she ap- and downs for Giuliani. peared in every game her During her freshman year, freshman year, a streak that Giuliani has maintained See GIULIANI on C3

By LUKE CAMPBELL

By RJ LEISIE Staff Writer

Standing next to Presidents’ Athletic Conference Commissioner Joe Onderko while holding the PAC Wrestling Championship trophy and triumphing over rival schools, knowing that once again your team will be the one to beat next year. This has been the recent trend of the Waynesburg University wrestling program, which had won the past four of six PAC Tournament team titles.

Unfortunately for the Jackets, their reign atop the PAC ended Friday when they finished third overall out of the three teams in competition.

Thiel College took home the trophy to Greenville, Pennsylvania for the 21st time in program history after finish-

ing with 106.5 total points.

Washington & Jefferson finished second and totaled 93.5 points, while Waynesburg scored 93 team points.

“It was definitely disappointing to say the least,” said head coach Ron Headlee.

“Our guys fought through the whole thing and kept it close, but we just couldn’t finish the deal.”

Three Jackets were able to bring back individual titles.

Seniors Sam Guidi and Luke Lohr were able to win in their respective weight classes and junior Greg Kumer was the final member of Waynesburg’s trifecta.

Lohr won the first round by a fall over Thiel’s Nick Hart at the 4:14 mark. He then defeated Trevor Meyers of W&J in the championship round by a major decision,

PAC experiments with new women's playoff format

By JOHN LYDIC

Multimedia Manger

When the Presidents’ Athletic Conference tips off its annual conference basketball tournament in the women’s division this year, the tournament will have a whole new look.

Starting in 2015, the women’s playoff format will have a new makeup based off changes suggested by coaches within the conference.

The tournament’s five and eight seeds will play each other and then the six and

seven seeds square off against each other.

The winner of the five/ eight game will play the nu m b e r- f o u r s e e d o n Wednesday, Feb. 25. The six/ seven winner will move on to play the number-three seed on Wednesday, as well. The winners of the Wednesday games will advance to the final four.

The winner of the game between the three seed and the winner of the six/seven match-up will move on to play the two seed. The winner of the game between the

four seed and the five/eight winner will advance to play the one seed.

The tournament’s top seed will host the semifinals and championship game on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28.

“We thought this would help our conference, as a whole, get stronger,” said Waynesburg women’s basketball coach Sam Jones. “It helps our one and two seeds who aren’t hurt by playing a bad team a third time. It helps our lower seeds get in playoff games that they can

win, which helps recruiting.”

Jones and Saint Vincent head coach Jimmy Petruska brought the new format to the coaches after seeing a similar style implemented in the Ohio Athletic Conference, according to Jones.

PAC commissioner Joe Onderko said this new format was thanks to the coaches who proposed it and brought it to the attention of the athletic directors.

“This comes straight from the coaches,” said Onderko.

See PAC on C4

17-6. It is only fitting that the fourth ranked wrestler at 147 pounds in the country won his fourth individual title while donning a Jacket singlet. He is first Jacket since Alex Crown did so during the 2012-2013 season.

“It’s definitely a good way to end the PAC season,” said Lohr. “This adds more motivation for myself heading into this last match, and getting ready for regionals and hopefully nationals in the future.”

Moving up weight classes to 165, Guidi won his first individual title as a Jacket. The senior faced Declan Haggerty of W&J in the first round and won by a way of a fall at the 0:45 mark. He was then given a break until the third round where Thiel’s Brandon Collins challenged him. The

only thing that changed from Guidi’s first match was not the way of victory, but the amount of time it took to get that victory, as he disposed of Collins early in the third round.

“It feels nice to finally win it,” said Guidi. “It’s only a three-man tournament, but after coming in second the last two years, it feels good to finally say I won it.”

The final Yellow Jacket to receive an individual title was the man at 285, Greg Kumer. Kumer, unlike his teammates, had a tougher first round battle with the Tomcats’ Blake Heim. The match went into six overtimes, but Kumer was able to pull out the victory with a 4-3 decision.

See WRESTLING on C4

COMMENTARY

Waynesburg in prime position for PAC title CARSON FOX Assistant Sports Editor

Flashback to 2010.

After a successful tenure at Calvin College in Michigan, head coach Mark Christner decided to captain the ship of a program that was coming off a 2-22 season.

With the golden era of Jacket basketball under head coach Rudy Marisa in the rearview mirror, Waynesburg men’s basketball was at its lowest point since the 1955-56 season, when the Jackets only won one game.

One could make the case that the program would not be where its at if it wasn’t for See FOX on C4

Yellow Jacket

Page C2

February 19, 2015

WAYNESBURG MEN'S BASKETBALL

Jackets extend winning streak on the road with win at Bethany

By KYLE DAWSON

Editorial Assistant

Saturday’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference matchup between the Waynesburg University men’s basketball team and Bethany College was one of the most intriguing games on the slate for this past week. The Yellow Jackets dominated the matchup, defeating the Bison by a final score of 78-53.

For Waynesburg, it was the team’s sixth straight triumph and the eighth win out of the last ten games for the Jackets. They defeated a Bethany team that had run off eight straight wins since losing to the Jackets on the road back in January.

But, the win also served as the program’s first win at the Hummel Fieldhouse in Bethany, West Virginia since Jan. 29, 2000.

“It was a good challenge for us and we responded well as a team,” said head coach Mark Christner. “Bethany was playing very well coming in."

"You watch them on film and they had established a style of play that has been disruptive for opposing teams.

We tried to force them to take tough jumpers and stay aggressive.”

Christner also said that playing aggressive defensively did not allow Bethany to get into their zone at times, which allowed Waynesburg to run in transition.

What seems to be a common theme the last few weeks, defensive stops led to open looks and open areas on the other end of the floor against the Bison zone defense. Waynesburg was able to knock down 48 percent of its shots from the field, with four players scoring in double figures.

Senior Jacob Fleegle had a game-high 17 en route to reaching the 1,000-point milestone for his Waynesburg career. Fleegle became the 33rd member of the 1,000 points club at Waynesburg, thus joining his teammate Jason Propst as the second

Jenny Schouppe, Yellow Jacket

Waynesburg's Jacob Fleegle, pictured here in a game earlier this season, scored a game-high 17 points en route to 1,000 career points at Bethany Saturday.

Jacket to reach the mark this season.

The last time the Jackets had two players reach the milestone in the same season was when Marc Lodovico and Jeff Nero did so in the 2006-07 season.

Junior B.J. Durham had 12 points, while seniors Kenny Klase and Thomas Ellis recorded 11 and 10 points, re-

spectively.

“We scored because we were active flashing against the zone and made shots,” said Christner. “We were trying to be assertive offensively too and did a good job in that respect too.”

Waynesburg had an assist on 23 of its 30 made shots, which according to Christner, was huge in building

the lead and in the eventual winning effort.

Fleegle echoed his coach’s sentiment.

“The assists were huge against the zone,” said Fleegle.

“We played unselfish as a team. When you do that, it’s a recipe for success. We did a great job of getting the ball to where we wanted to and finishing from there.”

The PAC’s second-leading scorer, Delonte’ Joyce was held to just four points in the first half and then held in check the second half as well. The senior headed into Saturday’s action scoring at a clip of almost 19 points per game.

“Our guys played him aggressively and forced him to take tough and contested jumpers,” said Christner.

“Byrum [Louco], Casey [Hope] and even B.J. [Durham] played him very well and that led to them having to find other ways to try and score. They [Bethany] weren’t able to score as well as they normally do.”

Moving forward, the Jackets will enter the PAC Tournament as either the #2 or #3 seed pending on yesterday’s matchup with Geneva, as well as the outcome of the Thomas More-Saint Vincent matchup on Saturday in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

With a win versus Geneva and a Thomas More loss to the first-place Bearcats, the Jackets would break the tie with Thomas More and en-

ter the playoffs as the number two seed, while any combination of a Saints win or Waynesburg loss would isolate the Jackets as the number three seed heading into tournament play next week.

No matter the result, the Jackets will host a PAC Tournament game Tuesday, Feb. 24 against an opponent that has yet to be determined. It will be the second year in a row in which Waynesburg has hosted a men’s first-round game.

“We saw the atmosphere last year,” said Fleegle. “It was awesome. We’ve played well at home and it is so important that we can play in front of a home crowd that has been so supportive of us for the last two years.”

Christner said the team’s focus will remain what it has been all year.

“We are moving into execute or be done territory,” said Christner. “We’ve played well at home and it’s great we get to stay here for the first round, but we have to play well to get the job done and hopefully we will.”

Twins: Propst, Fleegle each reach 1,000-point plateau Continued from C1

since Waynesburg has had a pair of ballers reach the 1,000 point milestone in the same year.

Jeff Nero and Marc Lodovico accomplished the feat during the 2006-07 season. The Jackets also had a third player, Beau Wilson, record 1,000 points as part of that class; however, Wilson did it the season prior.

Now Propst and Fleegle are a part of Waynesburg history, which Christner said is a testament to how hard they’ve worked to develop both on and off the basketball court since arriving on campus.

“Jason [Propst] has been a guy that has been involved in many different areas and he has been number-one on the scouting report for our opponent,” said Christner. “He seems to get the double-teams and get bumps underneath. His development in decision making and

going hard at the rim has been fun to watch.”

“From Jacob’s [Fleegle] standpoint, his leadership has been phenomenal,” said Christner. “I have always had more respect for guys that can play and student-teach at the same time. Having to go from dealing with kids to refocusing for practice and games is tough, but he did well.”

Christner also highlighted how coachable the two have been during their time at Waynesburg and how their leadership has affected the team over the past four seasons.

Propst and Fleegle, two of seven senior players on the team, have helped to bring a winning tradition back to Waynesburg basketball.

Since Waynesburg College became Waynesburg University in 2007, the Jackets have had one winning season, which was last season. Since the class arrived on campus, their win totals have increased. During their

freshmen seasons, the team went 5-22 and won just once in Presidents’ Athletic Conference play.

The following season, Waynesburg finished 10-17 overall and won four times in the PAC. Last year, they rattled off 15 wins overall and nine in conference play, a school record.

Fast-forward to this past weekend when Fleegle passed the 1,000 point mark, and the Jackets are getting set to host another first round PAC Tournament game. All while possessing 15 overall wins and 11 conference wins, with improvement being the word that comes to Christner’s mind.

“This class has improved every year since they’ve arrived on campus,” said Christner. “They’ve helped us get to where we thought we could be as a program when they visited campus their senior year of high school.”

No matter the outcome of this season, Fleegle and Propst can say

they led the class and helped to restore the tradition that is Wa y n e s b u r g U n i v e r s i t y basketball.

“Those two [Fleegle and Propst] will be remembered as the headliners of a class that helped restore the tradition here, but they wouldn’t want the others to go unnoticed,” said Christner. “The entire class is so close and they’ve worked so hard. So, yes, those two will be remembered, but hopefully this team can be too.”

The night Propst scored 1,000 points, he and Fleegle had a conversation typical of best friends or “family” as Fleegle said.

“I told him I was proud of him and that it was welldeserved,” said Fleegle. “Then he thanked me and said ‘Well you’re next,’ and I told him we just needed to get a few more wins." He wouldn’t let me go. He told me, ‘Well you are still getting it Fleegle.’”

PRESIDENTS’ ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROUNDUP MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS Saint Vincent Thomas More Waynesburg Bethany Thiel Geneva Grove City Westminster W&J

Conf. Overall 12-2 17-6 11-4 16-8 11-4 15-9 9-5 14-9 8-6 12-11 7-7 10-13 4-10 9-14 2-12 5-18 0-14 1-22

Saturday’s Box Score

WAYNESBURG 78, BETHANY 53 Waynesburg 40 38 72 Bethany 23 30 53 Saturday’s Box Score

SAINT VINCENT 58, GROVE CITY 45 Saint Vincent 27 31 58 Grove City 29 16 45 Saturday’s Box Score

THOMAS MORE 100, WASH & JEFF 42 Wash & Jeff 21 21 42 Thomas More 48 52 100 Saturday’s Box Score

THIEL 66, WESTMINSTER 48 Thiel 33 33 66 Westminster 27 21 48

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Waynesburg Top Scorers 1. Jacob Fleegle........................... 17 2. BJ Durham............................... 10 Thomas More Top Scorers 1. Drew Mumford....................... 16 2. Louis Maniacci......................... 16 Geneva Top Scorers Did Not Play Last Saturday Thiel Top Scorers 1. Eric Mallinger.......................... 12 2. Avril Campbell......................... 10 Bethany Top Scorers 1. Delonte Joyce...........................15 2. Jeff Joynes................................10 Saint Vincent Top Scorers 1. Pat Jones................................. 19 2. JC Howard............................... 15 Grove City Top Scorers 1. Caleb Knudsen........................ 8 2. Cory Huff................................. 20 Washington & Jefferson Top Scorers 1. Brian Lindquist........................ 11 2. Joel Garcia............................... 11 Westminster Top Scorers 1. Paul Carswell........................... 15 2. Deontay Scott.......................... 9

RECENT RESULTS Saturday, February 14

Waynesburg 78, Bethany 53; Saint Vincent 58, Grove City 45; Thiel 66, Westminster 48; Thomas More 100, Wash & Jeff 42

UPCOMING GAMES

Saturday, February 21 Bethany at Wash & Jeff - 3 p.m.; Grove City at Thiel - 3 p.m.; Thomas More at Saint Vincent - 4 p.m.; Westminster at Geneva - 7:30 p.m.

PAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Jacob Fleegle, Senior Wing, Waynesburg University

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS Thomas More Saint Vincent W&J Waynesburg Bethany Grove City Thiel Westminster Chatham Geneva

Conf. Overall 16-0 23-0 14-2 20-3 11-5 17-6 10-6 13-10 8-8 12-11 8-8 10-13 4-12 5-18 4-12 5-18 3-13 6-17 2-14 4-19

Saturday’s Box Score

MEN’S/WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK UPCOMING GAMES

Saturday, February 21: Bethany at Wash & Jeff - 1 p.m.; Grove City at Thiel - 1 p.m.; Chatham at Waynesburg - 1:30 p.m.; Thomas More at Saint Vincent - 2 p.m.; Westminster at Geneva - 5:30 p.m.

PAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Sydney Moss, Junior G/F, Thomas More

WRESTLING STANDINGS Conf. Overall

WAYNESBURG 69, BETHANY 67 Waynesburg 36 33 69 Bethany 31 36 67

Thiel Waynesburg W&J

Saturday’s Box Score

RECENT RESULTS

SAINT VINCENT 72, GROVE CITY 48 Saint Vincent 31 41 72 Grove City 25 23 48 Saturday’s Box Score

THOMAS MORE 91, WASH & JEFF 70 Wash & Jeff 29 41 70 Thomas More 45 46 91 Saturday’s Box Score

WESTMINSTER 73, THIEL 62 (OT) Thiel 22 36 4 62 Westminster 39 19 15 73 Saturday’s Box Score

CHATHAM 78, GENEVA 66 Geneva 30 36 66 Chatham 35 43 78

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Waynesburg Top Scorers 1. Rebecca Kerr............................18 2. Rachel Lovely..........................15 Thomas More Top Scorers 1. Sydney Moss...........................43 2. Abby Owings...........................9 Geneva Top Scorers 1. Nicole Hyland..........................23 2. Heidi Mann..............................19 Thiel Top Scorers 1. Jaclyn Watkins.........................29 2. Hannah Stoneman..................10 Chatham Top Scorers 1. Nikki Ingel...............................19 2. Rachel McClain........................14 Westminster Top Scorers 1. Rachel Durbin.........................20 2. Allison Borts............................18 Grove City Top Scorers 1. Kathryn Erbelding...................20 2. Lexi Arkwright.........................10 Washington & Jefferson Top Scorers 1. Beka Bellhy.............................16 2. Taylor Cortazzo........................14 Bethany Top Scorers 1. Kelsea Daugherty....................19 2. Hayley Holenka.......................15 Saint Vincent Top Scorers 1. Taylor Mathers.........................21 2. Ally Schmidt............................18

RECENT RESULTS

Saturday, February 14: Waynesburg 69, Bethany 67; Chatham 78, Geneva 66; Saint Vincent 72, Grove City 48; Westminster 73, Thiel 62 (OT); Thomas More 91, Wash & Jeff 70

2-0 1-1 0-2

12-6 16-7 2-12

Friday, February 13 PAC CHAMPIONSHIPS 1. Thiel, 106.5 pts.; 2. Washington & Jefferson, 93.5 pts.; 3. Waynesburg, 93 pts.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, February 20 Waynesburg at Alderson-Broaddus - 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 21 Thiel at Si Ostrach Meet - 11 a.m.

PAC MEN’S BASKETBALL LEADERS

Scoring: Mumford, 446, TMC; Joyce, 425, BET; Adamcyzk, 388, GEN Rebounding: Scott, 175, WES; Knudsen, 166, GRO; Kett, 162, SVC Free Throw Percentage: Mumford, .871, TMC; Schwartz, .836, GRO; Kett, .817, SVC Assists: Bess, 102, THI; Mays, 100, TMC; Vaudrin, 92, GEN

PAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LEADERS

Scoring: Moss, 497, TMC; Watkins, 402, THI; Mathers, 393, SVC Rebounding: Dunlap, 245, W&J; Mann, 219, GEN; Daugherty, 196, BET Free Throw Percentage: Mann, .805, GEN; Wainscott, .790, TMC; Mathers, .787, SVC Assists: Naples, 94, BET; Schmidt, 94, SVC; Moss, 88, TMC

MEN RECENT RESULTS

Team Friday, February 13 MID-FEBRUARY MEET 3. Westminster, 73 pts.; 5. Geneva, 57.50 pts.; 9.

Grove City, 44 pts.; 11. Thiel, 24 pts.; 14. Wash & Jeff, 15.50 pts.

Individual MID-FEBRUARY MEET MEN 55 METER DASH 1. Falonte Jackson, Point Park, 6.54; 2. Jametrius Bentley, Westminster, 6.58; MEN 200 METER DASH 1. Falonte Jackson, Point Park, 22.75; 2. Jametrius Bentley, Westminster, 23.49 MEN 400 METER DASH 1. Jacob Mellinger, Geneva, 51.34; 2. Aaron Tedys, Geneva, 51.71 MEN 500 METER 1. Zachary Watt, Point Park, 1:09.37; 2. Erick Martinez, Otterbein, 1:10.45; 7. Erik Braun, Thiel, 1:14.24 MEN 800 METER DASH 1. Graham Allen, Grove City, 1:59.62; 2. Alec Southern, Case Western, 2:03.97 MEN 1000 METER 1. Clay Smith, Geneva, 2:42.30; 2. Justin Benzino, John Carroll, 2:43.68 MEN 1 MILE RUN 1. Emmett Barr, Allegheny, 4:33.64; 2. Nick Knorz, Case Western, 4:37.01; 6. Steve Morgan, Thiel, 4:39.74 MEN 3000 METER RUN 1. Luke Regan, Allegheny, 8:59.87; 2. Logan Steiner, Allegheny, 9:11.13; 4. Joshua Makepeace, Wash & Jeff, 9:19.13 MEN 5000 METER RUN 1. Phillip Cochran, Otterbein, 16:11.81; 2. Alex Porter, Allegheny, 16:20.54; 6. Ken Kutchel, Geneva, 16:55.74 MEN 55 METER HURDLES 1. Ryan Lopez-Jordan, Grove City, 7.72; 2. Tyler Abels, Notre Dame, 7.78 MEN HIGH JUMP 1. Shaun Berry, Point Park, 1.93m; 2. Rio Johnson, Notre Dame, 1.93m; 8. Jacob Feeney, Geneva, 1.73m MEN POLE VAULT 1. Andrew Brannen, Westminster, 4.40m; 2. Jared Brucker, Case Western, 4.25m MEN LONG JUMP 1. Anthony Thomas, Westminster, 6.79m; 2. Darin Gooch, Central Stat, 6.73m MEN TRIPLE JUMP 1. Jryi Davis, Point Park, 13.31m; 2. Shaun Berry, Point Park, 13.19m; 4. Alex Kennedy, Geneva, 12.46m MEN SHOT PUT 1. Nick Fiorentino, Westminster, 14.21m; 2. R.J. Malson, Thiel, 14.03m MEN WEIGHT THROW 1. Mitch Supan, BWTC, 17.41m; 2. Mike Petro, Allegheny, 16.82m; 4. Nick Fiorentino, Westminster, 13.43m

WOMEN RECENT RESULTS Chatham at Waynesburg- 1:30 p.m.

WCYJ-FM, 99.5 The Hive, WUSN

WAYNESBURG ATHLETES OF THE WEEK Jacob Fleegle, Men’s Basketball

Rebecca Kerr, Women’s Basketball

Team Saturday, February 7 MID-FEBRUARY MEET 3. Westminster, 68.85 pts.; 6. Grove City, 56.50 pts.; 8. Geneva, 40.71 pts.; 11. Wash & Jeff, 32.25 pts.; 13.

Thiel, 23 pts.

Individual MID-FEBRUARY MEET WOMEN 55 METER DASH 1. Brittney Traynor, Wash & Jeff, 7.57; 2. Taelor Fowler, Point Park, 7.60 WOMEN 200 METER DASH 1. Brittney Traynor, Wash & Jeff, 26.94; 2. Taelor

Fowler, Point Park, 27.36 WOMEN 400 METER DASH 1. Jasmine Lett, Ursuline, 1:00.85; 2. Zoe Tucker, Central Stat, 1:02.26; 4. Caitlin Yakopin, Westminster, 1:03.72 WOMEN 500 METER 1. Adrienne Scrima, Grove City, 1:25.95; 2. Diona Roberts, Ursuline, 1:28.27 WOMEN 800 METER 1. Cidni Latimer, Central Stat, 2:26.27; 2. Laura Cooper, Allegheny, 2:27.22; 4. Meredith Steinmetz, Thiel, 2:32.63 WOMEN 1000 METER 1. Havilah Gaugler, Geneva, 3:06.94; 2. Madelyn Blosser, Geneva, 3:11.85 WOMEN 1 MILE RUN 1. Katie Guarnaccia, Point Park, 5:31.83; 2. Mia Bates, Oberlein, 5:33.48; 10. Candice Arnold, Thiel, 5:53.52 WOMEN 3000 METER RUN 1. Emily Rabenold, Grove City, 10:43.50; 2. Katie Guarnaccia, Point Park, 11:08.58 WOMEN 5000 METER 1. Emily Rabenold, Grove City, 10:43.50; 2. Katie Guarnaccia, Point Park, 11:08.58 WOMEN 55 METER HURDLES 1. Shatasia Walker, Central Stat, 8.42; 2. Morgan Berg, Thiel, 8.69 WOMEN HIGH JUMP 1. Laurel Shickler, Case Western, 1.50m; 2. Meredith Haller, Case Western, 1.45m; 3. Brook Burns, Wash & Jeff, 1.45m WOMEN POLE VAULT 1. Marissa Kalsey, Westminster, 3.79m; 2. Brittany Majors, Westminster, 3.34m WOMEN LONG JUMP 1. Rayna Holmes, Oberlin, 4.86m; 2. Annie Goodridge, Oberlin, 4.85m; 3. Cassidy Shepard, Westminster, 4.80m WOMEN TRIPLE JUMP 1. Nichelle McMillian, Seton Hill, 11.49m; 2. Rachel Watson, Grove City, 9.97m WOMEN SHOT PUT 1. Sara Von Dolln, Allegheny, 12.20m; 2. Shawta Covington, Notre Dame, 12.04m; 6. Sarah Foy, Geneva, 10.83m WOMEN WEIGHT THROW 1. Alexa Mochan, Allegheny, 15.07m; 2. LAuren Sandrock, Notre Dame, 14.74m; 7. Devon Dobbs, Wash & Jeff, 13.49m

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, February 20 Waynesburg at WVU Invitational - TBA Saturday, February 21 Kenyon Classic (Westminster, Bethany) - 12 p.m.; WVU BLue Gold Invitational (Grove City) - TBA; Kent State Tune-UP (Wash & Jeff, Thiel) - TBA; DePauw Classic (Thomas More) - 11 a.m.

PAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Men: Track (Graham Allen, Freshman, Grove City); Field (Andrew Brannen, Junior, Westminster) Women: Track (Emily Rabenold, Junior, Grove City) Field (Marissa Kalsey, Junior, Westminster)

Yellow Jacket

February 19, 2015

Weekly Awards

Waynesburg basketball stole the show this past week, as both the men and women geared up for a run at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament.

Therefore, it’s fitting that a pair of hoopsters Fleegle Kerr take the honor of being named Waynesburg University Athletes of the Week.

Senior Jacob Fleegle made history Saturday, when he became the 33rd 1,000-point scorer in the history of the 80-plus year men’s basketball program. The winger from Jennerstown, Pennsylvania reached the momentous milestone in a 17-point performance in the Jacket win over Bethany.

Fleegle led the team in scoring during the two games last week by averaging 16 points per game. The men’s team was the beneficiary of Fleegle’s solid performances, as it edged Thiel 64-58 and then and won 78-53 at Bethany.

As a result, the Jackets moved into a tie for second place in the PAC standings with an 11-4 conference record.

On the women’s side of the ball, senior guard Rebecca Kerr played a pivotal role in the team’s sweep of Thiel and Bethany.

The New Castle, Pennsylvania native averaged 20 points per game in the outings, as the Waynesburg basketball program completed its perfect week.

Kerr dropped 23 points in the 80-59 thrashing of Thiel Wednesday, and then she followed that game with 17 points in a narrow 69-67 win over Bethany Saturday.

Her performance certainly aided the team in its quest to host a playoff game in the PAC Tournament, as it took a two-game lead ahead of Bethany and Grove City, thanks to a 10-6 conference record.

Following the Wednesday matches at home versus Geneva, the men look ahead to tournament play as their regular season schedule comes to a halt, while the women host Chatham University to conclude their regular season.

Page C3

Women's basketball wins in nailbiter Jackets down Bethany 69-67 in West Virginia

By AUSTIN ANDERSON For the Yellow Jacket

The Waynesburg women’s basketball team was up 6961 against Bethany with 1:58 remaining after senior forward Rachel Lovely’s layup.

Despite the eight-point lead, Waynesburg head coach Sam Jones did not take it for granted.

“I never envision it being over,” said Jones. “Not with two minutes left if its single digits, not with the three ball.

They get a three, we turn the ball over, and they get a three. Which is very possible, and all the sudden it’s a totally different game. I was not relaxing and assuming anything.”

Sure enough, Bethany went on a 6-0 run to pull themselves back within two with 12 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing possession, Waynesburg senior guard Rebecca Kerr had the ball stolen by Bethany sophomore guard Alexis Naples.

“I thought they were going to foul me, and then, they ended up not [fouling me],” said Kerr. “I completely forgot we had three timeouts. I should have called one.”

Jones said he was attempting to call timeout at that

juncture, but understood the volume of the gym affected the referee’s ability to hear.

Bethany, despite two point-blank chances from junior guard Mikyla Tipton, was unable to convert on the final possession, allowing Waynesburg to come away victorious.

“In a scramble like that, you never know,” said Jones.

“She missed the first one, and I thought we had a good shot at the rebound there, but she came up with it. There’s people clutching, grabbing, pulling and everything else.

She’s a good hard player, so she came up with it.”

Kerr scored 17 points, snatched four rebounds, and tallied an assist in 25 minutes of play that led the Jackets.

“I think against a team like Bethany, I am able to succeed because I can get a lot drives and cuts to the basket,” said Kerr. “They are not as strong on defense as a lot of other teams we play, so I get a lot of open looks.”

Kerr also had four steals on the game thanks to a predictable Bethany offense.

“They telegraph their passes a lot and would always throw to the wing,” said Kerr.

“I kind of just knew that’s where they were going, and

Jenny Schouppe, Yellow Jacket

Pictured in a game earlier this season, Rebecca Kerr had a team-high 17 points in Saturday's victory. could jump the passing lane a couple of times.”

Lovely came off the bench and supplied Waynesburg with a season high of 12 points.

“It was more of a team effort,” said Lovely. “I got some really good passes from [Kerr], for instance. I was able to connect because of that.”

Lovely started 11 games her junior year, but she has not started a single game this season. Her playing time has increased as of late due to her lightened academic load.

“It’s kind of nice to be finally done with a lot of the work I need to do,” said Lovely. “I finally got into [medical] school, which relieves

the pressure and it allows me to focus on basketball.”

With the win, the Jackets have guaranteed themselves a top-four finish in the PAC, which means they will host their first playoff game since 2013. However, Jones does not want the team to stop playing this final week of the regular season because they have clinched home court.

“We still have a slight chance at third,” said Jones.

“We want make that still a possibility. Obviously, we want to win out. Go into the playoffs on a nice win streak. Just continue work on things and grow, and leave ourselves a shot at that third place should Washington & Jefferson slip up.”

Lacrosse projected to finish fifth Giuliani: Consistency key for senior

By ZACK ZEIGLER

Editorial Assistant

While there is still a chill in the air for many spring athletes at Waynesburg University, it is time to prepare for a long, spring season.

The Waynesburg University women’s lacrosse team will take part in history, as it will be joining the newly formed Ohio River Lacrosse Conference.

This conference, which includes a merger between five teams from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and five teams from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, became effective on Sept. 1, 2014.

“We are excited to see the new conference get off the ground,” said commissioner

of the ORLC and the PAC, Joe Onderko. “It is a great opportunity for the sport of lacrosse, and for the individual programs to grow and become competitive.”

Other teams making the transition from the PAC includes Saint Vincent, Thiel, Washington & Jefferson and Thomas More. Those teams will be joined by Mount St. Joseph, Transylvania, Defiance, Hanover and Franklin from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

“I am very excited to play against the new opponents,” said sophomore Jessica Rains. “It will be nice to not play the same teams over and over again.”

With the formation of the See LACROSSE on C4

Continued from C1

Giuliani was the primary guard used off the bench, and she contributed as an excellent shooting option. Her sophomore season consisted of 11 starts and a continuation of her lethal shooting from downtown.

“I actually wasn’t a great shooter in high school, especially from three,” said Giuliani. “It’s funny that it’s the main part of my game now.

I’ve also gotten better at reading the defense and making the right decisions.”

Her junior season was a memorable one, thanks to hot shooting from 3-point land and from the free-throw stripe. Giuliani shot slightly over 44 percent from behind the arc, which was the best in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, and 87.5 percent from the foul line. This ultimately led to her leading the Jackets in scoring with 10.9 points per game and her being named to the All-PAC’s Second-Team.

However, Giuliani’s success from the previous three years didn’t translate early on this season, as she did not make a three-point shot until five games into the season, and she only made it to the foul line in one of the first 11 games to begin the 2014-15 campaign.

“It’s been frustrating to say the least,” said Giuliani. “I’ve

Rob Longo, Yellow Jacket

Hayden Giuliani (right), pictured here in a game earlier this season, has not missed a game since joining the Yellow Jackets back in 2011-12 as a freshman. been trying to stay positive and focus on other ways to help my team.”

Even with her numbers significantly dropping off from last season, she has continued to be an essential piece of the puzzle to what Waynesburg has been able to do this season.

“She is mentally tough,” said head coach Sam Jones.

“She works really hard and is always prepared, allowing her to contribute in many other ways.”

That “doing whatever is necessary” mentality is put on display when Giuliani arrives before practice with some of her teammates to work on their shooting.

“They [her teammates]

have encouraged me to keep shooting even when I’m in slumps,” said Giuliani. “I think the whole team aspect itself is a supportive environment. Playing a team sport is one of the best things to be a part of, so it always helps me get better.”

As an athletic training and exercise science dual major, she knows what it takes off the court to maintain her competitive edge on the court.

“She sleeps and eats healthy,” said Jones. “She is always in good shape.”

Adjusting to her role this season is something that Giuliani has admitted to be the strongest part of her game.

“I’ve had to do my best no

matter the situation,” said Giuliani. “I’ve always tried to bring a positive attitude.

Coach Jones has been a great encourager and always gives me advice on how to be the best player and teammate.”

That new role that she adopted only consists of a decrease in points, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage, but Giuliani has her sights set on the upcoming PAC Tournament.

“Our goal is to win out and get to the PAC championship,” said Giuliani. “It will be a tough road, but not impossible. I’ve never stopped working to improve and I will continue to put reps up to improve until the last game.”

Men's tennis voted to finish fourth

By JEFF CHAMP

For the Yellow Jacket

Winter may be in full swing, but the spring sports season for Waynesburg University athletics is just about to get underway as preseason polls have been released for the upcoming men’s tennis season.

The men’s tennis team is coming off a 3-8 record last year and a fourth place finish at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament, after Grove City captured its astonishing 24th-consecutive PAC Championship.

Nevertheless, head tennis coach Ron Christman said his team is motivated and ready to get the season going.

“My guys have a little chip on their shoulders,” said Christman. “We think we are going to be a force this year.”

In the preseason poll, Waynesburg was projected to finish in fourth place again, but Christman has higher aspirations.

“If we aren’t at least number-two in the conference, I’ll feel like I have failed,” said Christman.”Our intent is to compete for the top spot.”

The PAC pegged three Jackets as “Players to Watch.”

Those players are seniors Isaiah Cochran and Phillip Littlejohn, and sophomore Tim Harris. “ We h av e re t u r n e r s that are ready to go,” said Christman.

Yellow Jacket

Page C4

February 19, 2015

Junior college transfer gives Waynesburg bench a boost

By JACOB MEYER Managing Editor

Waynesburg University men’s basketball head coach Mark Christner runs 11 players on the floor game in and game out, with each of them set in their specific roles. The execution of those roles is a vital aspect of what makes the Yellow Jackets a contender in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

One of these 11 Yellow Jackets is junior wing D.J. Ritchie.

This season is Ritchie’s first at Waynesburg; he transferred in after playing two seasons at Garrett County Community College, a Division II junior college in Maryland.

Ritchie said he decided to go to Garrett because he could get two years of education for free, play basketball and get his associates degree.

In his first season at Garrett, Ritchie mainly came off the bench for the Lakers.

However, he was one of the best players on his team in his second season—a team that won its region and made it to the D-II national tournament.

Ritchie Ritchie started in all 32 games for Garrett, while playing 26.4 minutes per game. Ritchie averaged 10.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

He also shot 45.4 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from behind the threepoint arc.

A lesson that Ritchie learned while at Garrett was he noticed people were fending for themselves because junior college players are only trying to get recruited elsewhere.

Ritchie said he became physically and mentally tougher from the process.

At the end of the season, the college search began again for Ritchie.

“I was looking at a couple of different Division III schools, and I came here,”

Ritchie said. “This was actually the first school I visited after Garrett. I just liked Coach Christner and all the guys, and it seemed like a good fit.”

Despite being a focal point for a very successful D-II junior college team last year, Ritchie is one of the six role players that Christner brings off the bench.

Christner said Ritchie’s role on this team is simply to score buckets.

“That’s what we want him to do, and he understands that,” Christner said. “He’s a scoring wing, and I don’t think you can ever have too many of those guys. I think he knows his role is to try and get buckets and play really good defense as much as he can. Thomas [Ellis] is the same way. We rely on those guys to score.”

On the season, Ritchie is averaging 6.9 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game, while only playing 14.5 minutes per game. Ritchie is shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from behind the arc and 83.8 percent from the stripe.

Ritchie is second on the team in points per 40 min-

utes and rebounds per 40 minutes, with 19 and 8.6, respectively.

“I try to help anyway I can, but it’s always fun to score,” Ritchie said. “Even if I don’t score, it can still be fun. We beat Bethany at home by 32, and I didn’t score a point, but I had a lot of fun.”

Ritchie said this basketball season is very different compared to what his role was at Garrett.

“At Garrett I was kind of a go-to guy, but here I come off the bench and contribute in other ways than just scoring,” Ritchie said. “Just playing defense, getting rebounds and motivating others. It’s different, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

Christner thinks Ritchie is a player whose ability deserves more minutes than maybe he is receiving.

“He’s a guy, to be honest, who could be playing more minutes than what he’s playing,” Christner said. “I think he’s playing about 13 to 15 minutes, but he’s probably an 18 to 20-minute guy abilitywise. But his attitude is terrific, and he understands the whole piece.”

“We have a very deep team,” Ritchie said. “We go

about 11 deep every game.

I think we’re a lot different than other teams, and coach [Christner] has a hard time of getting those 11 guys their fair amount of time, and he does a pretty good job of managing that. I know it’s tough for him.”

Christner said Ritchie’s consistency has been very influential in the team’s and his success this season.

“From an outside shooting standpoint, he’s been great and really consistent,” Christner said. “He gives us some more punch off the bench, and as he’s learned how to play defensively how we would like him to play."

Ritchie said one of the hardest transitions he’s had to make as a Yellow Jacket is learning Christner’s defensive system.

“His defensive system is way different than what I learned growing up and at Garrett, so I have a tough time adjusting to it,” Ritchie said. “He understands that, but just told me to keep working hard on it and concentrate on playing defense, and it should get better.”

Ritchie’s experience at GCC is just another aspect

of his play that Christner said he likes.

“I mean he started on a junior college team that made the junior college national tournament, so I think that winning experience is an important piece to what he brings,” Christner said.

“Another part of his role is to provide that experience as a junior. He’s been other places and seen other things, which I think is important; and he’s won, he’s used to winning. I can see that at practice when he’s pushing guys, encouraging guys and trash-talking guys a little, and we want a guy to raise that bar a little.”

Christner said he has been most impressed with Ritchie’s team-first approach.

“He’s one way to demonstrate how a teammate should operate because he knows he could play more,” Christner said.

“I mean, he started on a team who went to the junior college national tournament, so now he’s here and he’scoming off the bench. But, he’s good with that, and he wants to compete, help andcontribute. His attitude has been outstanding.”

PAC: Conference tries new playoff format Lacrosse: WU picked to finish fifth in ORLC Continued from C1

“All sport rules come from the coaches association themselves. They can propose how to do things. The coaches thought this was a nice way to improve the competitiveness of some of the

early round games and build some more excitement heading into the weekend.”

Jones thinks there is an added bonus to this new format, because it gives more of an importance on finishing at a higher position in the conference.

“It just makes everything

worth more because we don’t re-seed,” said Jones. “Where you end up means a lot more than it used to. It gives you more incentive to fight for the top games. It gives you an attainable goal to work towards. Any time you can host a home playoff game, it is an added bonus."

Fox: Now or never for men's basketball Continued from C1

Christner’s first recruiting class.

Enter Jason Propst; a firstteam All-State selection from Brighton, Colorado, whose tie to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania was his older sister Michelle, who ran track here.

After showing glimpses of the kind of talent that made him a McDonald’s All-American consideration, Propst blossomed as a sophomore starter and has evolved into a focal point of Waynesburg’s opposition throughout his career.

Enter Jacob Fleegle; a four-year letterman and 1,000-point scorer at North Star High School in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania.

Similarly to Propst, Fleegle showed glimpses of greatness as a freshman. He too burst on to the scene as a sophomore and has been the dagger in the side of many Presidents’ Athletic Conference opponents because of his scoring ability, which culminated Saturday when Fleegle joined Propst as a 1,000-point career scorer.

Enter Kenny Klase; the Bethel Park Hawk whose head coach Ben O’Connor said was a player who just needed confidence in order to capitalize on his potential. While Klase made his mark on the program early in his career as a three-point specialist, this season he’s become the total package that O’Connor prophesied: being a leader on both sides of the ball.

Enter Thomas Ellis; a First-Team All-Conference player from Fresno, Ohio whose family had ties to Waynesburg University. After making the decision to focus strictly on basketball, rather than split time between basketball and baseball, Ellis’ game improved to a point where the title of “Sixth Man” could as easily be applied to Ellis as the title of Team MVP. Enter Byrum Louco; from WPIAL powerhouse North Allegheny whose speed is unmatched in the PAC thanks in part to his dominance on

the track. Louco already has a couple of PAC titles, all of which were earned in his spring sport, the 400-meter hurdles. Louco’s defensive prowess has never been questioned, especially given the numerous times he has been used to shut or slow down the opponent’s best player.

Enter Casey Hope; a wily on-ball defender from Greensburg Salem High School, who before a significant knee injury, was the team’s starting point guard and has now been a shining example of a player who gives it all for the team, even if his role isn’t one he’s accustomed to.

From the moment these six men joined Christner in his reclamation mission, the clock started ticking. Was this going to an era of renaissance or was the clock going to run out on this cast of characters without anything to show for it?

Though the 2011-12 season resulted in just five wins, the metaphorical fire was built when Waynesburg defeated Washington & Jefferson 69-57, which ended an 18-game PAC losing streak.

It was also the first time that the Jackets beat the Presidents in 14 games.

A spark lit the fire the following year when the Jackets upset upperclassmen laden Bethany 67-64 at home. The victory snapped a 22-game losing streak to the Bison.

The season ended with the most wins in six years, and Propst finished the season as a second-team All-PAC selection.

The fire started to blaze last season, when the Jackets ripped off five consecutive wins to end the regular season, which included an emphatic Propst dunk that led to a Waynesburg win over Saint Vincent and a home playoff win over W&J. Though the season ended with the Jackets’ stingers having fallen off in a 103-75 loss in the ECAC Southwest Tournament, that sour taste left in the mouths of Jacket basketball fans was the direct result of Waynesburg having bigger and brighter expectations.

Mind you, this was a program that two and three years prior had as many wins as you could count on one hand. Now Waynesburg had expectations, aspirations and possibilities.

Before the season tipped off, I prompted Sports Editor Rob Longo to buy in to the idea that the men’s basketball team could win the PAC Tournament and write this column. After being picked to finish second in the conference standings, Waynesburg dropped its season opener at home 7065 to a Muskingum team that had 16 underclassmen on its roster. When the team opened the season 1-5, picking Waynesburg to win the PAC seemed to be as risky a prediction as picking W&J football over my grade point average.

But after beating Bethany, who previously was the hottest team in the PAC since winning eight-straight after losing to Waynesburg, my faith has been restored. The road jitters that plagued the Jackets during the middle of the season seem to be gone.

The Jackets have taken Thomas More to the wire in Crestview Hills, so a playoff trip there isn’t as intimidating. They have proven that they can beat Saint Vincent, and unless Dillon Stith and Isaac Turner come back from Australia to lead the Bearcats, another victory is not out of question. Also, Waynesburg has beaten Bethany and Thiel twice.

This championship run has been four years in the making, beginning with Christner’s recruitment of the 2011 sextet. Those six now-seniors, as well as the others who have bought into the idea of restoring Jacket basketball as a contender are in prime position to win the PAC Tournament.

The stage is set with beatable opponents, and Waynesburg’s other role players outside of the seniors are performing exactly the way they should so that the team can win a conference title.

It’s time for these six and the rest of the Jacket squad to set the PAC ablaze.

Continued from C3

conference, there will also be the formation of some new lacrosse teams. Thomas More, Franklin and Hanover are first-year programs.

“It is never easy to start a new lacrosse program,” said Onderko. “But it is preferable to do so in a league with so many teams that are already competitive.”

The Jackets are led this season by third-year head coach Maria Shepas.

“This year coach [Shepas] has been able to change the team dynamic,” said Rains.

“She has brought a new at-

titude to the team.”

Shepas, a former gradu a t e o f Wa y n e s b u r g University, was one of the best to go through the young program at Waynesburg.

“Playing helped me to be able to set the tone, and create that competitive culture on the team,” said Shepas.

Last season the Jackets finished with a record of 3-9 overall, which set the program record for wins in a single season, ultimately earning them a trip to the PAC tournament where they fell to Thiel College, 17-6.

“I like the way we hung around,” said Shepas. “We had our goalie injured in the

game, but I really liked the way we finished.”

The playoffs for the new ORLC will be similarly structured to that of the PAC. The top-four teams in the conference will make the tournament. The teams will be seeded from one to four, followed by a one-game elimination.

The ORLC, who released its 2015 pre-season poll Feb. 5, had Waynesburg picked to finish fifth PAC rival Saint Vincent was picked to finish first, receiving nine out of 10 first-place votes. The other lone first-place vote went to Mount St. Joseph.

Wrestling: Jackets take third at PAC's Continued from C1

In the championship match, Antonio Santoro of W&J looked for revenge from his loss earlier in the season to Kumer. However, the results would be similar as Kumer was able to defeat Santoro by way of fall 1:15 into the second period.

“Winning back-to-back titles means a lot to me,” said Kumer. “It means that my hard work is paying off.

It made it even more special that I could win one along-

side Sam Guidi, who has been my teammate ever since we were little kids wrestling together.”

Overall, the team as whole was not satisfied with the results. After winning back-toback championships, being on the other side was not the greatest feeling.

“It was a little different to watch another team take the trophy and pictures,” said Lohr. “It is definitely an eye opener for all of us because it shows that winning is not an easy task, especially in the PAC.”

After a disappointing finish at the PAC Tournament, Waynesburg is looking to its next match against Division II foe Alderson Broaddus University. Headlee hopes the finish at PAC’s will have the same effect as the loss at Thiel.

“When we lost against Thiel, we were able to rebound well and have a strong outing at Baldwin Wallace University,” said Headlee.

“Hopefully the same carries true for this week heading into Friday and further down the road.”

SECTION D

FEBRUARY 19, 2015 | WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY | THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG

CCO’s oldest partnership brings Christian students to Jubilee

By MATT KOLL

Editorial Assistant

The Coalition for Christian Outreach is hosting one of its “Jubilee” conferences this upcoming weekend, and Waynesburg University, the school with the longest lasting relationship with the organization, will be involved again in 2015.

The CCO created Jubilee 42 years ago; Waynesburg students have been involved in 41 of those 42 years.

“It’s a conference tailored for college students for their faith to intersect with everything they do,” said resident

director and CCO member Russ Schneider.

According to CCO’s website, the Jubilee conference is “a catalytic event created to provide ‘a vision of and for life’ for college students who are followers of Jesus.”

It encourages them to consider the public implications of their own personal transformation and what it means to be faithful to God both in their university years and in their pursuits that will follow.

This year’s Jubilee is a three-day event being held at the Westin Convention Center, connected to the Westin Hotel in Pittsburgh,

and runs from Friday, Feb. 20 to Sunday, Feb. 22.

About 48 Waynesburg University students will be traveling to Pittsburgh this year, taking two university vans with the Student Activities Board and staying in the Westin Hotel for the weekend.

Every year, the conference has a theme or slogan held true throughout the weekend, and 2015’s is “This Changes Everything,” focusing on the Gospel.

“What this conference tries to teach is how to be a Christian student and allowing yourself to transform

during your college years,” said Schneider. “It is also about allowing the Holy Spirit to work on what it means to be a Christian in whatever profession you choose to seek out.”

There will be a series of four main conferences, consisting of the four-part Biblical story making up the Gospel, with guest speakers, and then the expected 1,500 to 3,000 students will be separated into four breakout sessions.

Schneider would like to see students find their faith through this event, and if they are already of the faith,

to have that reaffirmed.

“I want this conference to be a catalyst in helping students who may not have a faith to find one,” said Schneider. “If they do have a faith, I want it to be to strengthened and be focused and have a vision for their college. I want them to really see how the Gospel intersects with what their calling is in life. Really, I just want students to wake up.”

Schneider also believes that students should get involved because the Jubilee Conference offers real substance to the faith of young people and can be easily

used in the lives of college students.

“There’s a lot of conferences out there but there’s nothing really directly solely to college students while they are in college and how to prepare them afterwards,” said Schneider. “It’s giving [college students] a kingdom perspective on how they should be pursuing their years here, and their calling to Waynesburg University and to the Waynesburg community. They are here for more than an academic education, they are called for an experience, and Jubilee helps shape that.

'Just do you:' Finding success in music Symphonic band presents folk tunes made for ‘whistling’

By SHON MEADE

For the Yellow Jacket

Small-time artists who pursue music make sacrifices along the way

By SHON MEADE

For the Yellow Jacket

The musicians and artists that come to Waynesburg have a lot of talent and dedication to the work that they do. However, life for some is not all it seems to be.

The groups that come to perform are not the big name artists that sell out shows or perform during half time shows. They are, however, just as passionate about their music and careers as any of their competitors.

Through events like Noon Tunes, coffeehouses and wing nights, the Student Activities Board brings in artists to perform for the students here on campus.

SAB finds these artists at an National Association for Campus Activities convention where members of the group go around searching for artists they hope to bring to Waynesburg. Pat Bristor,

Photos courtesy of James Jones, Brad Skistimas

The artists known as Ball in the House (far above) and Five Time August (above) make sacrifices in their personal lives as they pursue their dreams of music. associate dean of students, has the final say in who gets chosen.

-----Ball in the House has come to Waynesburg multiple times over the past year; the most recent was in November 2014.

The five members of the group spend time on and off the stage together.

The group all lives in the greater Boston area, but three of the guys are from North Carolina, Washington, D.C.

and Florida.

“Most of us have family and have kids so it can be hard,” said James Jones, on behalf of the group.

Since they all live relatively close together, it is not a hassle to get together to practice.

When the members are not performing, they enjoy unwinding and kicking it back.

“We all enjoy different things in terms of hobbies or unwinding activities,” said Jones. “Concerts, games,

cuddling up to Netflix are among some of the normal things we enjoy doing in our off time.”

But like any other indie artist will tell you, work still needs done during the off hours. Having to build up the name of your group, which is a business within itself, requires plenty of effort. According to Jones, 30 percent of what the group does is art and 70 percent is business. When the group is not performing they are planning tours, arranging their music, keeping up on trends and various other activities to ensure they are up to date on social trends.

“Just do you,” said James.

“All of us are living breathing testimonies of that principle.

All of us got a fairly late start in our lives with music because of societal or familial pressures to do otherwise - Dave’s friends said music wasn’t cool, Monty was told he was too old, and James was led to believe he’d be of greater worth to humanity if he were an academic. As corny as it sounds, be true to yourself. We call that true success. Anything less and See SUCCESS on D2

The Waynesburg Music department will have their annual mid-winter concert on Feb. 25 at 5:15 p.m. Students can come down to the Marsh Center, located on the lowest floor of the chapel, for a music filled evening. The concert band will perform familiar songs that fit in with their theme of folk music.

This concert is considered a rehearsal for the group but students and the community are invited in to listen to what they have been working on.

The pieces that were selected are based on folk tunes that were written for wind band. Seven pieces are to be performed at the concert; included in that are marches and songs people should be able to recognize. The melody from “Scarborough Fair” and “Shenandoah” are to be featured in the pieces and are to be ones that the audience will easily recognize. Other selections will be variations on popular tunes, medleys and rhapsodies.

Multiple students will be featured in the performances and have their musical talents spotlighted.

Senior music ministry major Philip Hurd will sing a folk song and will be accompanied by the band.

Junior arts administration major Haley Lusebrink will be featured in Shenandoah.

Folk music usually has more common times so being able to keep a beat in the audience will be no problem.

“We hope people will be

leaving whistling a familiar tune,” said Ronda Depriest, the director of the music program at Waynesburg University.

Depreist will also be in charge of conducting the performance and has put a lot of time and effort into this group.

“Band is a fun way to meet new people and make friends on campus,” said Marla Holland, freshman psychology major. “It’s a great way to get involved in music.”

Other members of the ensemble include some community members who are alumni. A reception will follow the performance that will provide snacks and beverages while the students talk with those who came out.

Before and after the concert, the instrumental music team is doing a Chinese auction and baked good sale with the proceeds going to their Relay for Life team. The money will benefit breast cancer research.

Local businesses have donated items and goods for the auction and people are encouraged to make a donation, even if they are not entering the auction.

DePreist was also in charge of the other concerts that have gone on in the past, including the concert band and Lamplighters’ shared Christmas performance, and Tuba Christmas, which she organized and conducted.

The concert will last around 45 minutes and the drawing for the Chinese auction will commence at 6:15 p.m.

Guest performers combine music and theatre onstage

By YURIKA BLEVINS

For the Yellow Jacket

At noon on Thursday, Feb. 12, the Core Ensemble spoke about their career and what they do for the students of Waynesburg. Michael Parola, Byron Sean, Ju Young Lee – also known as JY – and Jamyl Dobson are all a part of the Core Ensemble Chamber Music Theatre. The Chamber Music Theatre celebrates diversity and multiculturalism in a marriage of theatre narrative and musical performance.

On their website, it states that a solo actor or actress portrays multiple characters while interacting with their onstage musical trio.

The trio performs chamber music ranging from new and traditional concert pieces to

vernacular styles such as jazz, tango, folk and spiritual – primarily by African American and Latin American composers.

The shows they perform are based on real historical figures drawn from African American and Latino/Latina experiences, as well as a unique perspective of women. The performances are a way of celebrating Hispanic Cultural Awareness Month, Black History Month and Women’s History Month.

There are five different performances the group performs: “Tres Vidas, Of Ebony Embers, Los Valientes, Ain’t I a Woman, and Cuentos de los Campos.”

Parola is the percussionist, Sean is the pianist, JY is See ENSEMBLE on D2

Roomel Reese, Yellow Jacket

FINDING SOME LUCK FOR VALENTINE'S DAY On Feb. 13, students gathered in the Beehive for Valentine's Bingo to try their luck at winning a Valentine's prize. The event was sponsored by Waynesburg Unviersity's Student Activities Board.

Yellow Jacket

Page D2

February 19, 2015

Students discover connection between calling and career

By LUISA SINGLETARY Copy Editor

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, students were invited to see plastic surgery and criminal justice align during Driven: Connecting, Calling and Career, a program sponsored

by Willison Hall’s Residence Life Staff.

Part of the Residence Life Growth Series, this event was held at 7 p.m. in Miller Hall.

The featured guest speakers were Mr. James Tanda, Criminal Investigator, BATFE (ret) and Instructor of Criminal Justice at Waynesburg and Dr. Jeffrey Antimarino, a plastic surgeon and business owner.

Both speakers stayed true to the theme of the series and discussed how faith and hard work influenced their careers

Tyler Wolfe, Yellow Jacket

Dr. Jeffrey Antimarino, plastic surgeon, shared his career journey with Waynesburg students at a Residence Life Growth Series event Feb. 17 and helped in finding their calling in life.

An RA himself in Thayer, Charles Cook came to support the Res Life staff of Willison.

“I would definitely go

again; it was nice to hear the stories of two very successful people and how they were able to tie faith in with their careers,” said Cook.

Junior Nursing major, Madelyn Luhrman appre-

ciated Tanda’s presentation for its unique correlation to her life.

“My favorite part was hearing Mr. Tanda’s stories about the prison in Louisburg because it’s right behind my house,” said Luhrman.

Tanda focused largely on the poignant moments in his career, with a focus on the intentionality of his actions during difficult moments.

“I kept my sights focused along the way, I kept my work ethic strong, kept my moral compass tight, and kept making the right decision when I found those forks in the road,” said Tanda.

Tanda shared stories of tragic struggles.

Though challenging, his struggles only further solidified for him that he was on the correct path.

Tanda assured the audience that finding their calling was achievable as long as they made good decisions.

“When you come to that fork in the road, choose the right path and I promise it will come to you,” said Tanda.

Dr. Jeffrey Antimarino also shared his career journey – but instead focused on how God called him to his field of plastic surgery.

“He has a calling for each and every one of us,” said Antimarino.

God’s calling for him, however, did not match his calling for himself.

“This chose me, I didn’t choose plastic surgery,” said Antimarino, who was emphatic about his original unwillingness to work in this specific field.

“I said ‘I’ll never be a plas-

tic surgeon,’ well, be careful about when you say never in life.”

Cook saw a glimpse of his own future in Antimarino’s stories.

“I connected mainly with Dr. Antimarino because my career goals mirror his,” said Cook, a junior biology major.

“I like how he has brought a different view on plastic surgery, how it’s about the afflicted mind set and healing that not about what we see in magazines.”

Cook’s discovery of his own aspirations reflects Antimarino’s sentiments and the theme of the night.

“It’s about what works for you. Everyone has a different calling,” said Antimarino.

“Each of you will have your own calling, but keep your faith central to that.”

Success: Musicians’ up-and-coming Ensemble: Combination group careers compensate for family sacrifices celebrates famous ethnic poets Continued from D1

you will be, at best, a very sophisticated phony. No one wants to look back on their life and have that be their crowning achievement” -----Back in December 2014, Waynesburg was visited by Five Times August, a singer out of Texas. Five Times August is the name of Bradley James Skistimas’s music project. While Skistimas travels around to perform, he leaves behind a wife and two boys back in Texas.

“When I’m not performing I’m completely immersed in home life,” said Skistimas.

“I spend a lot of time with family and just try to enjoy the simple things.”

Before starting his family, Skistimas would spend up to eight months on the road traveling and performing. He did that for six years straight.

With the start of his family, however, he has cut back on the long stretches like that.

“I love being home and I miss my family when I’m away,” said Skistimas. “But I still need stay active and out there.”

Skistimas would like to get back out there more in 2015 and get together a long string of tour dates this year.

It may seem hard to be a musician with a family at home and having to travel.

According to his website, Skistimas’s music has been featured on more than 80 television shows, commercials and films. The stations that the shows were on ranged from MTV and The CW to a couple of shows on ABC and Fox. The first time a network used one of his songs was MTV. They used the song “Better With You” on an episode of the show Laguna Beach in 2004.

“That was one of the first times I really felt like I was making it as a musician and songwriter,” said Skistimas.

Five Times August has not only performed at college shows. Skistimas has performed in plenty of festivals over the years with the largest crowd being 80,000.

“A gig is a gig,” said Skistimas. “It’s a chance to perform and do what I love.”

The smaller shows that he performs at provide Skistimas with an opportunity to really connect with the audience and talk within a more intimate environment.

Oftentimes artists may get discouraged to perform if the audience is small – but not Skistimas.

“It’s a rewarding thing to perform on stage and know you did your best, then have people tell you they enjoyed the show,” said Skistimas.

One of the most rewarding moments in his career was when an aspiring guitarist, who considered giving up on his dream, came up to him after a show and said Skistimas helped inspire him to continue.

Money can be tight for artists such as Five Times

August, but that does not discourage him. Staying active in the music industry has helped him stay financially stable.

“With how the music industry is now it can be difficult at times,” said Skistimas.

“Spotify and YouTube royalties don’t exactly pay the bills, or buy a pack of gum for that matter.”

He also does freelance graphic design from time to time.

-----During the last wing night at the beginning of February, Steve Everett came back to Waynesburg for his fifth time. He performed previously at a Noon Tunes in November 2014 and other events in the past.

“It’s pretty awesome to perform at colleges,” said Everett.

Making fans at colleges helps in the long run. Everyone is in a concentrated place and once they graduate or leave, they spread out.

With that being said, fans leave the schools and can spread the word of the artist’s music. This helps word about an artist spread.

“You gain free places to stay all over America,” said Everett.

Everett has performed in all 48 continental American states. The most memorable place he has performed was the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, Virginia. With 2,500 people for a sold out show, Everett got to perform with a band he grew up idolizing, Sister Hazel. “[There are] thousands of fans screaming; they don’t know you’re not big time famous,” said Everett.

In his free time, Everett enjoys playing golf back home in Nashville. He also has a web series he puts out his website called “Cigar & A Song” where he performs live old and new songs from his home.

When Everett is back in Nashville, he also spends time booking shows and writing songs.

According to his website, Everett is also a fan of sports, traveling, films and high fives.

After his concer t at Waynesburg back in February, he sat down with the students and made sure to thank them for coming out and hearing him sing, something a lot of big time artists cannot do after a show.

Working off the mindset that if you put on a good show and the crowd likes you, you will be asked to come back is how Everett goes about his shows. This makes booking easier because the school will then contact you instead of the artist reaching out to the school. Networking plays a big role in modern artists getting gigs.

“It’s definitely hard to get started,” said Everett, “but once you get the ball rolling they’ll invite you back.”

-----Gary Johnson, who has recently started performing at Noon Tunes events, has a

take on music that is different than other musicians because he records different aspects of a song live, and then plays it back to the audience. This is called live looping and has been made famous by artists like Ed Sheeran. He also utilizes different synthesizers, voice changers and replay features to help replicate the real songs. Each show Johnson does is by request, as he has everyone text him what kind of songs they want to hear.

Johnson is from Syracuse, New York and his parents are also musicians. Starting out at the age of two, he has been playing guitar and piano.

Performing all over the country, word spread quick about Johnson and his unique way of going about his performance, which helped distinguish him from other artist.

Johnson had previously toured with the lead singer and lead guitarist of the band Boston from 2004-2008. The shows would have 30- to 50,000 people.

Recently married in 2014, when on the road Johnston leaves behind his wife who is now expecting.

“I try to make the most out of every show,” said Johnston “I’m taking time away from my family to do it.”

His wife understands the passion that Johnston has for music, even if it means the couple is separated at times.

Luckily she is not alone at home as they have four cats to keep her company. The two also run an animal shelter.

The way Johnston’s show is built allows him to really connect with his audience.

The students get his cell phone number at the beginning of the show and then they leave with it. This helps build relationships between the fan and the artist.

“I have a luxury that most big name artists don’t,” said Johnson. “The best part of the job is interacting with the fans.”

Continued from D1

the cellist, and Dobson is one of the actors. There are many other members of the group, but Parola, Sean, JY and Dobson were the ones who came to Waynesburg.

Parola is going on 30 years with the Core Ensemble. This is JY’s second year; he is a graduate of Juilliard, where he played the cello. He was going to get his master’s degree, but instead auditioned for the Core Ensemble. JY is also starting another group in New York, where they write their own music and perform in small houses.

Dobson auditioned for the Ensemble a few years ago and did not get in. Two years later, he was offered a job; he took it and has been with the group since. Sean was recommended by the former cellist of the group and has been with Core since 2006.

The group was formed in 1985 when it was just Parola, a pianist and a cellist. The pianist and cellist were husband and wife at the time the group started. Then in 1993, after the married couple was divorced, Parola hired a new pianist and cellist. During the mid-90s, he wondered what it would be like to add more people, but he always knew the original trio would be the core, hence the name Core Ensemble.

The group started to do larger things with dance companies and other types of companies in the 90s. The idea of a fourth person was economical, as they could do their show anywhere because there were only four people compared to other groups with 15-20.

This was Core Ensemble’s first time at Waynesburg.

The show they performed was Of Ebony Embers. On their website, they have a description of this specific performance. The description reads: “A chamber music theatre work for actor and

Roomel Reese, Yellow Jacket

Jamyl Dobson of the Core Ensemble acts out poetry from an African-American poet during Core Ensemble's musical theatre performance on Feb. 12. trio (cello, piano, and percussion) celebrating the lives of the great African-American poets, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay as seen through the

eyes of the great muralist and painter Aaron Douglas.

For students unable to attend the concert, there is a trailer of the performance on their website.

Yellow Jacket

February 19, 2015

Page D3

WEEKLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS

1. Parlor action 5. Dorm peer leaders: Abbr.

8. Lidless container 14. Palm that produces purple berries 15. CPR giver 16. Missouri River city 17. “You don’t look a day over 29,” probably 19. One may use a tele prompter 20. IM guffaw 21. Hustled 23. Points in math class 24. Didn’t come to pass 28. Chorus for the villain 29. “Dang!”

30. Fellow 31. Drink with sushi 32. Cow or sow 35. Flooring phrase 40. Promos 41. General organization?

42. Tetra holder 43. Reining word 44. “Given the circum stances ...”

47. So as not to be noticed 51. Stories of the ages 52. Invalidate 53. Vacation destination 56. Wanted badly 59. Device for exposing the end of 17-, 24-, 35 or 47-Across 61. __ Pie 62. Great Basin native 63. Orkin victim 64. Pull out of the water 65. TD’s half-dozen 66. Gorillas, e.g.

9

DOWN

1. Go through a lot of tis sues 2. Tunnel effect 3. Help from behind 4. Gather dust 5. “I can __” 6. __ curiae: friend of the court 7. Tough to climb 8. Nav. noncom 9. Word before base or ball 10. Kingdoms

LAST WEEK'S SOLUTION

6

8

3 6

6

9 2

4

2

11. Skywalker associate, familiarly 12. Monastic garment 13. Inducing the willies 18. Sea eagles 22. Kitchen dweller of song 25. Spanish 101 verb 26. Cook quickly, in a way 27. Half-note feature 28. Obey 30. Campus no.

31. Farm home 32. Unit between levels

5

7

1

5

1

9

7

8

3

4

6

4

2

5 3

4

7 1

7

9 2

9 6

3

4

8

33. Prince in “Frozen” 34. Large grazer 36. Cowardly Lion player 37. Bouncy pace 38. Missouri River city 39. Sundance Kid’s girl friend 43. Boll eater

44. Actor Will of “The Lego Movie” 45. Many diner dishes 46. Not working 47. Stress-related ailment, possibly 48. Language on a longship 49. 16th-century circum

navigator 50. Turn out 54. Prepare for a shot 55. Song and dance 57. Former Abbey Road Studios owner 58. “GoodFellas” boss 60. IRA suggester

Yellow Jacket

Page D4

February 19, 2015

THE BACK PAGE

WU Bucket List By: Danielle Schuyler

As young people, we are frequently asked what our goals are – what we want to be ‘when we grow up.’ Older relatives inundate us with questions about our relationship status. We are encouraged to pursue our dreams. In each of us, there are things we aspire to do before life milestones. One of those milestones is college graduation.

What do you want to do before you leave Waynesburg University? What would be on your ‘WU Bucket List?’ Here are some examples of what your fellow students are looking to accomplish before becoming alumni:

“I would like to see the fourth floor of Miller.” - Lori Williams, junior, human services “Visit the alpaca farm in Waynesburg.” - Emily Haywood, junior, criminal justice administration

“Go on a mission trip.” - Roomel Reese, sophomore, accounting “Get a hat trick in lacrosse.” - Joseph Honda, senior, digital design “I think I just want to spend more time with my friends, exploring Greene County and Waynesburg as well as the surrounding areas.” - Abby Wernert, senior, public relations and journalism “I want to take a selfie with President Lee.” - Taylor White, sophomore, public relations “One thing I would like to do before I leave is go on an adventure with my friends.” - Kim Ryan, senior, criminal justice “Make the most of my college experience (positively) and be able to love and encourage as many people as possible – and be on one of the school brochures.” - Emily Heinl, sophomore, psychology “One thing I want to do before I leave would be travel on an international service learning trip with the school.” - Becca Shindelar, senior, human services “I would say that I just want to make a lot of close friendships and make memories with the people around me.” - Andrew Gilmore, freshman, nursing “I want to go on a final ski trip with my friends before I graduate.” - Taylor Bombalski, senior, public relations “One thing I want to do before leaving WU would be leading someone to God.” - Sara Lesher, freshman, criminal justice “I want to ski or snowboard down Mt. Burns/Ray.” - DeRon Scott, junior, criminal justice “One thing I’d like to do is be a part of at least one musical or play here at Waynesburg.” - Alex Sielski, sophomore, criminal justice “I think I want to stand in the middle of Johnson Commons in the middle of the day and scream, “WE ARE THE KINGS OF CAMPUS!”” - Adam Kirasic, freshman, sports broadcasting “Climb the Chapel.” - Caroline Brown, English literature

U W Designed By: Autumn Foust