SECTION D
SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 | WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY | THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG
'WU Idol' makes its anticipated return Artist's illness crafts unique work shown at exhibit “It will be very interesting to see how they perform with live music and people in the audience.”
By ANNIE MCGLAUGHLIN Multimedia Manager
The search for the next Waynesburg Idol is happening on campus once again. On Sept. 8 and 9, auditions for the popular Student Activities Board competition were held in the Goodwin Performing Arts Center. Judging the students were Mary Hoffman, Julie Wise and Anthony Jarrell. “It’s a very good group, not many returners, so it’s all new talent,” said Anthony Jarrell, WU Idol judge and resident director of Martin Hall. “It will be very interesting to see how they perform with live music and people in the audience.” There were ten studemts who came out to audition. The contestants were allowed to choose what song they would audition with, as they stood alone on the stage singing acapella. Students who passed the auditions would be rewarded a golden ticket to show that they were moving on to the real deal. Veronica Steen, a freshman children and youth ministries major remarked she had been singing since she was just two years old.
ANTHONY JARRELL
WU Idol Judge
Luisa Singleton, Yellow Jacket
Brad Gillespie sings "Hey Brother" by Aviici during the tryouts for WU Idol. He will be participating in round 1 Steen performed a rendition of Hallelujah for her audition. The excitement of receiving a golden ticket is second
to none for some students. “It’s like an athlete’s first game. I was excited and everyone was pumped up around me, and I was so
nervous,” said Renee Watts, a senior early childhood and special education major. “But now it’s a like a rush of excitement now that I made it.” Some contestants thought it was now or never to compete in the singing competition and took a chance by auditioning. “I decided to audition for Waynesburg Idol because my two friends on SAB signed me up,” said sophomore nursing major Brad Gillespie. “I figured life is too short and I might as well go for it.” In the past, Waynesburg Idol has drawn heavy student interest and the Student Activities Board expects that to remain the same when the competition kicks off again this year. The first round of Waynesburg Idol will be held Friday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. in the GPAC.
By TEGHAN SIMONTON For the Yellow Jacket
E a c h y e a r, t h e D e partment of Fine Arts at Waynesburg University invites a modern artist to showcase their work in an annual Guest Art Exhibition. This year, the artist on display is Andrew Walker. “Every semester I try to find an artist that has something that can share with students that is a little unusual,” said Andrew Heisey, assistant professor of art. “I’ve had artists that have ultrarealistic work, things that have spiritual messages… [Walker’s] work deals with environmental issues and also deals with healing.” Walker’s work features a variety of mediums, all addressing the shortcomings of the human body and the toll that humans have placed on the environment. However, what sets Walker apart is his tendency to use images of his own illness in his artwork. Walker has been plagued
with a disease since his teens, which cost him a kidney early on and continues to trouble him today. “Because of his disease and the issues he has, he has to take certain medicine to keep him alive, but that same medicine actually damages his body. He gets skin cancers all over his body,” said Heisey. Walker is known for taking digital images of scenes in nature, particularly the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, and superimposing them with images of the cancers that he has had. Though some may find these works somewhat disturbing, Walker introduces an uncommon take on disease and disability, as well as the faults of humanity. “I like it because it shows the healing process, that even with these issues – the disease, the pollution in the environment – healing is occurring,” said Heisey. “It certainly deals with that See WALKER on D2
Student debate event returns with discussion of Iran deal By JOHN LYDIC Staff Writer
Once again, Waynesburg University had the chance to debate a national topic within the campus community at the first Student Speak of the year. The history club was the host for the first event, and the topic focused on the Iran Nuclear Deal. The forum allowed the students a chance to talk about the issues surrounding the deal in a community setting. Amy Smith, junior secondary education biology major, thought the event was a great chance to learn more about the topic. “I thought the discussion brought many important topics up that I wasn’t educated about, like the whole treaty itself,” said Smith. “Now I know what the treaty is about and how it will benefit or ruin the country.” The students discussed
John Lydic, Yellow Jacket
Students gather for the first student speak of the semester on the third floor of Stover. The topic of the recent Iranian nuclear deal was discussed then debated between those who came out on Friday, Sept. 11. key facts while also stating whether they supported the deal or were against it; those that opposed it shared points on what they would change
about the deal if they had a say. Derrion May, senior biology major, also thought the Student Speak provided
a good educational format for students to learn while also debating their opinions. “For such a sensitive topic, the Student Speak was very
controlled and informative,” said May. “I have not been keeping up with the Iranian deal, like a majority of the students, but there was some
great dialect, and the facilitators did a great job giving us facts instead of opinions.” Smith said the educational factor was not only a great opportunity, but it benefits the campus by allowing students to come together for a friendly debate. “It was great to see a variety of students share their opinions about the subject,” said Smith. “By learning the others’ opinions, I was able to form one of my own.” The students were provided lunch while they debated the topic, and the history club printed fact sheets for students to be more educated on the issue they were discussing. Student Speaks are held once a month by one of the groups that meets in the allorganizations meeting room, and the next one will be held Oct. 23 on the third floor of Stover. The topic for the second Student Speak event has yet to be announced.
Flu Clinic offered AdVenture Crew lives up to its name Newly merged group kicks off year with trip to Laurel Caverns to help prevent sickness this winter By RJ LEISIE
Sports Convergence Editor
By AUTUMN FOUST
Assistant Advertising Director
Each year, the flu clinic brings in a plentiful amount of people. Influenza is a respiratory illness that is caused by a virus. It is extremely contagious and can be spread by coughing, sneezing or being in contact with a person that has the flu. The virus can even spread without an individual knowing that they are infected. It is recommended that a person be vaccinated at least once a year. Antibodies develop in the body about two weeks after being vaccinated and provide protection against the influenza A virus and the influenza B virus. There are many more types of flus, but the traditional shot prevents the most common types. For the flu clinic, the Waynesburg University Stu-
dent Health Services teams up with Rite Aid to ensure that students are safe this season. The clinic is open to any student and accepts most health insurance types, but does cost is $29.99 if uninsured. Jennifer Shiring, the nurse director of Student Health Services at Waynesburg University, believes that it definitely benefits the students. The clinic provides two different kinds of shots; one is the traditional, and the other is an internasal. Shiring states that it was very busy on the first day. Lori Widdup is a Waynesburg University graduate who was in charge of giving students their vaccines on Sept. 9. This is Rite Aid’s third year of doing flu clinics, and each year the turnout gets better.
See CLINIC on D2
Waynesburg University’s two exploring groups have been combined into one. The Waynesburg Outdoor Experience (WOE) and Venture Crew 1849 have joined together and formed the Waynesburg Outdoor AdVenture Crew in a joint effort from both sides. “WOE was a campuswide program and Venture Crew [part of the Boy Scouts of America] was a university organization to which students and faculty would have to register to attend events,” said Taylor Garrett, president of AdVenture Crew. “This year, the administration decided to combine the two groups in hopes of creating one unified body of students and faculty that love the outdoors and are interested in participating in outdoor activities.” On Saturday, the Crew
Photo courtesy of Taylor Garrett
Those who went on the trip were able to experience the full effect of the caverns. Members of the former groups were able to come together as one. took their first trip as a new organization. They traveled to the Laurel Caverns in Laurel High-
lands, Pennsylvania. Laurel Caverns is the largest natural cave in Pennsylvania.
It is also the largest natural bat hibernation site in See CAVERNS on D2