PASSHE passes new IUP per-credit tuition pilot

Transcription

PASSHE passes new IUP per-credit tuition pilot
The Penn
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PASSHE passes new
IUP per-credit
tuition pilot
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Friday, January 30, 2015
Vol. 105 No.28
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News
Council of Trustees
nominates new student rep.
By casey kelly
Lead News Writer
[email protected]
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Council of Trustees has nominated
a new student representative, and she
is now making her way through the
lengthy nomination process.
Erika Fenstermacher (sophomore,
psychology) said she is honored to have
been chosen for this position, the highest position a student can hold at IUP.
“I want to be a vessel,” Fenstermacher said. “I want to better a school that is
already incredible, in my opinion.”
The responsibilities of the student
trustee are almost the same as any other
trustee on the council. This includes
attending quarterly council meetings
and participating in university events,
such as commencement ceremonies and
freshman convocation.
However, in addition to these responsibilities, the student trustee must
serve on the Student Congress Executive Board as ex officio and chair the
next search committee to fill his or her
position as student trustee.
In order to be an eligible candidate
for the student trustee position, a student must be at least a sophomore who
is able to serve on the council for at least
two years before graduating. The student must be in good academic standing and have significant leadership and
communication skills.
Present student trustee Aaron Douthit (senior, nursing) is also the chairman of the search committee for the
new student trustee. According to
Douthit, one of the major things that
the committee was looking for in candidates was communication and peopleskills.
“We were looking for someone who
has a welcoming personality,” Douthit
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said. “It takes a lot of social skills to be
a trustee. You’re put into a lot of situations where you’re working with people
with higher power than students, so you
really have to have a personality that allows you to interact and connect with
them.”
Fenstermacher, who currently works
in the office of the president, has made
it through the first three steps of the interview process: the search committee
interview, the council interview and the
interview with IUP President Michael
Driscoll. Now, she must receive approval from the chancellor’s office and
the governor’s office to officially earn the
position.
“If the chancellor’s interview goes
well, and if the governor’s interview goes
well after that, then I’ll shadow Aaron
all this semester,” Fenstermacher said.
If approved by the chancellor and
governor, Fenstermacher will start serving her term as the new student trustee
in June, according to Douthit. Fenstermacher said the two final interview
dates are not yet set in stone, but will be
coming within the next couple months.
Douthit said the search process for
the new trustee was difficult due to the
impressive applications that the council
received.
“[IUP] has really incredible students
who are doing really incredible things,”
Douthit said, “which made it a pretty
hard search process, but I’m very happy
with the outcome.”
With her psychology degree, Fenstermacher hopes to focus on gerontology, the study of the social, psychological, cognitive and biological aspects of
aging.
In addition to studying and working
in the president’s office, she also volunteers at the Indiana County Humane
Society.
News Editor: Kayla Cioffo – [email protected]
Lead News Writer: Casey Kelly – [email protected]
PASSHE passes new IUP
per-credit tuition pilot
By Molly VanWoert
Editor-In-Chief
[email protected]
The Pennsylvania State System of
Higher Education Board of Governors
passed Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s new Tuition Pricing Flexibility
Pilot on Jan. 22.
Beginning in fall 2015, the program
will create a per-credit payment for tuition costs.
The previous method charged fulltime students a flat rate of $6,820 per
year.
With the current cost-per-credit of
$284 at IUP, the per-credit payment
system could result in an increase in
tuition for some students, said Michelle
Fryling, executive director of communications and media relations, in a Jan. 29
phone interview.
“We understand that some students
might pay more,” Fryling said.
“IUP is a high-quality institution
and we take pride in that. We need to
be funded adequately and maintain our
current standards. We can’t compromise
on that.”
During the first year of the program,
a discount of 7 percent will be given to
all IUP students. This will be followed
by discounts of 4 and 1 percent during
the second and third years of the program.
With the 7 percent reduction awarded during the 2015-16 school year, the
cost-per-credit will be around $264,
assuming the 2014-15 cost of $284 remains consistent.
A student wishing to take 12 credits
in the fall and spring semesters of the
2015-16 school year would pay around
$6,336 for the year – a decrease of $484
from the flat-rate yearly amount of
$6,820.
A student who wishes to take 15
credits both semesters would pay
around $7,920 in tuition for the year –
an increase of 16 percent.
When the three-year phase-in period
is complete, assuming cost-per-credit
remains the same, a student wishing to
take two 12-credit semesters will pay
around $6,816 per year, saving them
$4 compared to the current flat-rate
system. A student taking two 15-credit
semesters in 2019-20 will pay around
$8,520 in tuition for the year – an increase of 25 percent.
The Pilot program was adopted by
FLAT-RATE
PER-CREDIT
IUP to help combat current and future
budgetary problems, Fryling said.
“When the university is on firm financial footing, everyone benefits,” she
said.
“We cannot continue in this kind of
debt. We needed to do something bold
to ensure financial stability.”
In addition to the 7, 4 and 1 percent
discounts offered during the first three
years of the program, the Academic Success Initiative and the financial needbase grant were established to help undergraduate students from Pennsylvania
who meet the financial and academic
qualifications.
“We don’t want to make it financially
difficult for the students,” Fryling said.
“We want to help in any way possible.”
Under the Academic Success Initiative, students with a 3.0 GPA qualify
for the tuition cost of one credit. The
cost of two credits will be awarded to
students with a 3.5 GPA.
As far as enrollment is concerned,
Fryling is optimistic.
“I hope our message continues to be
heard,” she said. “I still believe the students are receiving a great education at
an incredible value.”
$6,820
$284
1ST YEAR DISCOUNT
7%
2ND YEAR DISCOUNT
4%
3RD YEAR DISCOUNT
1%
3.0 - 3.49 GPA
1 CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP ($284)
3.5 and above GPA
2 CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP ($568)
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January 30, 2015
3
4
January 30, 2015
Police Blotter
SGA holds first meeting of the semester
By Brian Davis
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
Alcohol Violations
• Patrick D. Lafferty, 19, of Gibsonia, was cited for underage drinking after he
was found intoxicated and passed out in his shower in Delaney Hall Jan. 23 at
2:35 a.m., according to university police. Lafferty reportedly flooded his residence, causing water to leak into the room below him. He was released after
the citation.
• Connor Bradley Garrison, 19, of Perkasie, was cited for underage drinking in
the Suites on Pratt Jan. 25 at 2:26 a.m., according to university police.
• Taylor Hetrick, 18, of Freeport, was placed under arrest for public drunkenness and underage drinking after university police witnessed Hetrick fall into
the construction fence along Pratt Drive and then slip and fall on the roadway
at the corner of Pratt Drive and Maple Street Jan. 25 at 12:22 a.m., according to
university police. Hetrick is not an IUP student.
• Anthony Socrates Jr., 21, of Jeannette, was arrested for public drunkenness after borough police investigated a report at Boomerang’s Bar, 547 Philadelphia
St., Jan. 21 at 12:06 a.m., according to borough police. A witness reported that
Socrates threw a bar stool inside the bar, was kicked out and then pounded on
the front window of the bar. Socrates was lodged in the county jail and cited
for public drunkenness.
• Bridget Sherry, 19, of Indiana, was cited for underage drinking after she left a
residence in the 100 block of North Ninth Street Jan. 17 at 11:44 p.m., according
to borough police.
• Nicholas Franco, 19, of Womelsdorf, was observed fighting another male in
the 700 block of Church Street Jan. 22 at 1:32 a.m., according to borough police.
Franco reportedly fled from police when stopped and was taken into custody.
Franco was issued citations for disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and underage drinking, the report said.
• Adam Patrick Gehris, 21, of Lancaster, was arrested and charged for resisting
arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness after borough police found
Gehris intoxicated and screaming in the 900 block of Wayne Avenue Jan. 24 at
5:43 a.m., according to borough police. Gehris resisted arrest when officers attempted to take Gehris into custody, the report said.
drug violations
• Two male juveniles were charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 500 block of Water Street
Jan. 8 at 11:28 p.m., according to borough police. They were charged through
the Indiana County Probation Department.
• Alexander M. Rivera, 19, of Erie, was found to be in possession of marijuana
and other articles of drug paraphernalia while university police conducted a
traffic stop on a vechile for an inspection violation Jan. 26 at 9:27 p.m. in the
Hadley Union Building lot, according to university police. Alexander Rivera was
the passenger of the vehicle. He was charged for possession of a small amount
of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, the report said.
• Sarah G. Vermiya, 18, of Turbotville, was charged with possession of a small
amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from a room on the second floor of
Stevenson Hall Jan. 25 at 7:51 p.m., according to university police. Upon noticing the odor, police made contact with Vermilya and another female inside the
room and found the marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia within
the room, the report said.
News
The Student Government Association appointed a new director of external affairs at its first meeting of the
semester Tuesday in the Hadley Union
Building Allegheny Room.
Diana Cesar (junior, management
information systems) replaced the former director of external affairs, Elena
Kapp (senior, international business),
who is currently studying abroad.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” Cesar said.
“One of my favorite parts [of SGA]
last semester was the community service, so I’m looking forward to doing
more of that.”
Cesar’s new responsibilities will include overseeing the different positions
in the Department of External Affairs.
The director of external affairs oversees the conference chair, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
communication chair, the advocacy
chair, the safety and security chair, the
community outreach chair, the community service chair and the off-campusliving chair, according to SGA bylaws.
Cesar’s previous position was the
communications chair in the Department of Internal Affairs.
In other SGA news, Marissa Olean
(senior, criminology/pre-law), SGA
president, hit on some of the things
students can expect from SGA this semester.
Olean said SGA would continue
working with CrimsonConnect, software designed for campus organizations
to post information and events for its
members, and plan to participate in this
Facebook abuses ‘quasi-monopoly’ on
user data, lawmaker says
By stephanie bodoni
Bloomberg News
TNS
Facebook, Inc. is putting profit before its users’ privacy with its latest
terms and conditions, according to a
European Parliament lawmaker who’s
overseeing amendments to EU dataprotection laws.
The social network company is “abusing” its “quasi-monopoly” to “process
the personal data of its users to develop
constantly new business models – without their consent,” Jan Philipp Albrecht,
a member of the German Green group,
said in a statement on Thursday.
Facebook’s latest policy update is already being probed by the Dutch privacy watchdog, which criticizes Facebook
for effectively forcing users to accept the
changes without asking their permission. Hamburg’s privacy regulator said
this week he’s also seeking answers from
the company over concerns the changes
could violate German law.
Sally Aldous, a Facebook spokeswoman in London, rebuffed Albrecht’s
criticism, saying the company updated
its policies “to make them more clear
and concise, to reflect new product
features and to highlight how we’re expanding people’s control over advertising.”
Facebook alerted its users in November that it would revamp its policies,
including its data policy, from Jan. 1, a
date that was then delayed to Jan. 30.
The world’s largest social network
for years has been the subject of lawsuits and confusion over how the company controls and displays the data that
vehicle incidents
• University police are investigating a hit-and-run that occurred in the HUB lot
Jan. 27 sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The accident involved a
silver 2006 Nissan Titan Truck. The owner of the damaged vehicle is Bryan M.
Porath, of Johnstown. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked
to contact university police at 724-357-2141.
• A pedestrian was reportedly struck by a blue or gray SUV that was traveling
west on Maple Street and turned right onto South 11th Street Jan. 28 at 3:30
p.m., according to university police. The pedestrian had the right-of-way in the
crosswalk. The pedestrian was hit but not injured. University police reminds
pedestrians crossing a street or intersection to be aware of their surroundings
and to not use electronic devices or other distractions.
theft
• A theft of $30 occurred on the first floor of Delaney Hall sometime between
early morning Jan. 25 and 10 a.m. Jan. 26. The money was reportedly taken from
the victim’s top dresser drawer. Anyone with information is asked to contact
university police.
year’s Winter Warm-Up, the spring student organization fair.
SGA plans to attend the annual
PASSHE Board of Student Government Conference and hold its annual
elections in March, Olean said.
SGA also plans to continue volunteer
work, including cleaning the streets,
highway clean up and Relay for Life.
It will also hold its annual banquet
that recognizes student organizations
for their work.
The current executive officers are
Olean, president; Elijah Rosenthal, vice
president; Cesar, director of external
affairs; Katie Laky, director of internal
affairs; Derek Hanely, treasurer and
Hanna Beightley, secretary.
SGA has formal meetings at 7:30
p.m. every other Tuesday in the HUB
Allegheny Room.
For over 21 years;
[email protected]
members provide. European regulators
also have been sparring with Facebook
over how it applies European data-protection rules. The Menlo Park, Calif.based company, which has its European
headquarters in Dublin, has argued that
the Irish regulator has jurisdiction over
its compliance with privacy law.
“We routinely review product and
policy updates – including this one –
with our regulator, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, who oversees
our compliance with the EU Data Protection Directive as implemented under
Irish law,” Aldous said.
EU justice and interior ministers,
who are meeting this week in Riga,
“have to make a big step” toward harmonized EU data protection rules so
that legislation can be passed this year,
Albrecht said.
January 30, 2015
News
Support surfaces for Pennsylvania
medical marijuana bill
By michael a. fuoco
and mahita gajanan
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
TNS
Advocates for legalizing medical
marijuana in Pennsylvania are confident
that a change in administration and in
legislative attitudes will lead to a bill
that is more complete and progressive
than a watered-down measure that died
last year.
“It’s definitely going to be more comprehensive under a strictly regulated
medical environment,” state Sen. Mike
Folmer, R-Lebanon, said of Senate Bill
3, which calls for medical marijuana legalization. Like last year’s effort, he and
Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, are
co-sponsors.
Last year’s bill, SB 1182, passed the
Senate, 43-7, in September but did not
move to the House, where the Republican leadership was skeptical of passage.
Additionally, then-Gov. Tom Corbett
had opposed the legislation.
But the new House Republican
leader, Dave Reed of Indiana, supports
medical marijuana. And Tuesday, Gov.
Tom Wolf met with families advocating
the legislation and said he would sign
such a bill.
Thus far, 23 states and Washington,
D.C., have legalized marijuana for medical use and some for recreational use.
California was first in 1996. New York,
Maryland and Minnesota were the most
recent, passing their bills last year. State
laws differ in several ways, including
how much marijuana someone can buy.
Limits range from one ounce in several states to 24 ounces in Oregon and
Washington, where it’s also legalized for
recreational use.
Last-minute amendments to the
2014 effort in Pennsylvania reduced
the list of conditions qualifying for legal
use of prescribed marijuana to patients
diagnosed with cancer; seizures; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS
or Lou Gehrig’s disease; multiple sclerosis and several other conditions. The list
of qualifying conditions had been reduced from 45 to 10, eliminating maladies such as HIV/AIDS, chronic neuropathic pain, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease
and diabetes, among many others.
Moreover, under terms of the
amended bill, patients would have been
permitted to use extracted oil, edible
products, ointments and tinctures of
cannabis purchased from licensed dispensaries – but not to smoke it.
Sen. Folmer said he hopes to eliminate those restrictions. The co-sponsors
plan to add amendments to SB 3, which
now is the same as last year’s bill, that
would eliminate enumerated conditions
altogether, leaving the prescribing decision to medical professionals.
“Let’s allow science to dictate this.
Let’s give patients compassionate access
to a quality, safe product – medically
speaking – that’s prescribed by doctors
and alongside of that to allow research
to continue,” he said.
He is most supportive of patients being able to use marijuana with a vaporizer or nebulizer.
Patrick K. Nightingale, a Pittsburgh
attorney who serves as executive director of Pittsburgh’s National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
branch, said medical marijuana advocates are encouraged by signals coming
from Harrisburg.
“Lawmakers are passionate and being educated to see marijuana as medicine. We’re seeing day-in and day-out
progress in the country; 2015 is going
to be the beginning of the end of the
war on cannabis in Pennsylvania.”
But even after passage, some states
have had problems getting their programs up and running. For example,
New Jersey’s legalized medical marijuana law was supposed to become effective
six months after it was signed on Jan.
18, 2010. However, Gov. Chris Christie has proven a political impediment to
full implementation. Only four dispensaries have opened.
Sen. Folmer said Pennsylvania will
study the experiences of other states
so as not to repeat mistakes made elsewhere.
Even if the bill passes by June, as he
hopes, it will take Pennsylvania at least
until mid-2016 to develop the infrastructure for prescribing and dispensing
marijuana, he said.
But for Sens. Folmer, Leach and
other advocates of medical marijuana,
that’s a “problem” they look forward to
dealing with.
“This is not about recreation. This is
about medicine. The fear of this I just
don’t get. What Sen. Leach and I are
trying to do is to bring this true medical, nontoxic, nonaddictive, [healing]
benefit to as many Pennsylvanians as
possible.”
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5
Theater professor awarded
Innovative Teacher Prize
By Mary Romeo
Staff Writer
[email protected]
Because of her unique style and incorporation of applied courses, theater
professor April Daras was awarded the
Innovative Teacher Prize by the Kennedy Center American College Theater
Festival.
Daras has brought a new learning
technique to her students that was developed to create a simulation experience that will help practice real-life situations.
“This style of teaching provides students with authentic experiences that
cannot be predicted,” Daras said via
email on Wednesday. “They have to
solve problems on their feet, with their
own words, spontaneously.”
After a conversation with a palliative care doctor about her training with
physicians, Daras was inspired and intrigued to learn more about the practice
of employed actors playing simulated
patients.
She was then directed to a profes-
sional simulation company based in
Pittsburgh which led to more exposure,
observations and training sessions that
helped her familiarize with simulation
learning.
After the experience, she became a
professional member and conductor of
Pittsburgh Playback Theatre, an improvisational group that conveys community members’ stories.
“It was not until 2013,” Daras said.
when I officially relocated to Pittsburgh
and joined the theatre faculty of Indiana
University of Pennsylvania that I was
given an opportunity to fully incorporate the simulation and applied theatre
work I was exploring independently
into the university learning environment.”
One of her courses is “The Performance of Caring” for nursing majors,
in which student actors represent simulated patients in the nursing simulation
lab.
Some of the scenarios in the class
deal with a variety of topics, such as
dealing with distressed and/or aggressive patients and colleagues, giving and
receiving feedback, educating patients
and interacting across cultures.
She has also developed similar simulations for IUP’s educational psychology
programs, according to IUP’s website.
Daras is very familiar with acting and
theater, as she started off her professional career as an actor and later discovered
a passion for teaching.
This is now her third semester teaching at IUP.
“I was surprised and honored,” she
said of the award. “I feel very lucky to
be at an institution where this kind of
cross-disciplinary work is valued and
supported. My work would not be possible without the enthusiastic support of
IUP theater students, my department
chair and the faculty, as well as faculty
from nursing and educational psychology.”
Not only did she receive the Innovative Teacher Award, but she also received a Carbonell Honorable Mention
for her performance as Eleanor in “The
Middle Ages” and an award for Outstanding Actress for her supporting role
in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe.”
6
January 30, 2015
News
China’s crackdown on corruption
targets sales of officials’ calligraphy
By Stuart leavenworth
McClatchy Foreign Staff
TNS
(TNS)
Calligraphy brushes are displayed on Thursday in a window on Liu Li Change
street, a section of Beijing known for its art shops. China’s president has ordered
government officals to stop dappbling in calligraphy after some of them received
exprnitant sums for their “art,” a back-door method of bribery in China.
BEIJING – As part of his corruption crackdown, China’s president has
ordered government officials to be less
artsy.
State media reported Thursday that
President Xi Jinping has told government officials to quit their positions in
calligraphy associations and other art
groups. The ban applies to retired officials as well.
Why? It appears that numerous Chinese officials have used their status in art
associations to cover up bribes. A typical
payoff looks like this:
A businessman needs a favor from
a local government official, one with a
lofty title with an art association. The
businessman pays an exorbitant amount
for a work of calligraphy painted by the
official, and the favor is granted.
Xi’s order this week wasn’t unexpected. For the last two weeks, the Chinese
Communist Party’s anti-graft agency
has told officials to stop dabbling in calligraphy and to leave the art form to real
painters.
“Leading officials shouldn’t steal
meat from the plates of artists,” said
an editorial earlier this month that appeared on the website of the anti-graft
agency, the Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection.
Calligraphy is one of China’s most
revered art forms, and government officials have practiced it – and sometimes
excelled at it – for centuries. One of
China’s greatest calligraphers was Wang
Hsi Chih, a general in the court of the
Tsin Dynasty, during the third century.
The extent of the current brides-forart racket is unclear. But a story Thursday in the China Daily named Shaanxi
province – in the north-central part of
the country – as a “hotbed” for this type
of graft.
The most high-profile involves Jiang
Guoxing, deputy head of the press and
publications bureau in Jiangsu province,
north of Shanghai. Jiang gained some
celebrity as mayor of Jurong, a poor
Jiangsu town with an economy that
thrived under his leadership.
But as Jiang’s stature rose, he started
to take small bribes, which led to larger
ones, according to state media reports.
He was finally ensnared when Jiangsu
investigators began looking into real
estate deals and learned that developers had paid 100,000 yuan – about
$16,250 – for some of Jiang’s handwriting. Altogether, he’s accused of accepting $1.8 million in bribes.
In September, a court sentenced Jiang to 12 years and six months in prison, with a 400,000 yuan fine.
Millions may face tax penalties under health law provisions
By tony pugh
McClatchy Washington Bureau
TNS
WASHINGTON – An estimated 3
million to 6 million households that file
2014 income tax returns might incur
penalties this tax season for failing to
secure health insurance last year under
the Affordable Care Act.
Senior officials at the Treasury and
Health and Human Services departments wouldn’t confirm the estimates
during a telephone briefing Wednesday.
They did, however, say that 2 percent to
4 percent of an estimated 150 million
taxpayers are likely to be penalized.
The health law’s “individual mandate” required last year for the first time
that most Americans obtain health insurance or face a penalty equal to 1 percent of their annual household income,
or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child
– whichever is higher.
The 2015 penalty, which will be
levied next year, jumps to 2 percent of
income or $325 per person. In 2016,
it rises to 2.5 percent of household income or $695 per person. An estimated
25 percent of personal income-tax filers
didn’t have health coverage for all or
most of last year, officials said.
That’s roughly 37.5 million taxpayers. Some will face no penalties by
claiming any number of exemptions to
the coverage mandate based on religious
affiliation, immigration status, income
and other factors.
In addition, some who received tax
credits to help purchase their 2014 marketplace coverage might face a partial
or complete loss of their income tax
refunds – or end up owing the government money – if the income estimate
used to calculate their subsidy is below
their 2014 earnings.
It’s unclear how many people might
be subject to these financial penalties,
but tax credits were distributed to an
estimated 3 percent to 5 percent of tax
filers last year, officials said. That’s an es-
timated 4.5 million to 7 million households. Marketplace plan members were
instructed to notify their insurers and
HHS when their incomes or life statuses
changed so that their tax credits could
be adjusted accordingly.
Doing so would lessen the likelihood
of surprising financial penalties when
they filed their income taxes. Changes
that could trigger subsidy adjustments
include relocation, marriage, a job loss
or a large pay raise.
Those who had individual marketplace coverage last year will get a new
federal income tax form – 1095-A – that
must be filed with their 2014 returns.
The Obama administration is part-
nering with large tax-preparation businesses and nonprofit organizations to
help spread awareness of and answer
questions about the new health insurance tax provisions. Taxpayers with additional questions can contact HHS call
centers at 800-318-2596.
While some consumer confusion is
inevitable as the tax season swings into
high gear, Andy Slavitt, principal deputy administrator at HHS’ Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the
agency was ready for the challenge.
“We’re not going to predict how
things are going to go . . . but we feel as
good as we can” about preparations for
the upcoming tax season,” Slavitt said.
EMAIL [email protected]
January 30, 2015
News
Penn State panel calls for required reporting
of sexual misconduct
By susan snyder
The Philadelphia Inquirer
TNS
Pennsylvania State University would
require most of its employees – from
janitors to professors and secretaries – to
report allegations of sexual misconduct,
under a recommendation from a university task force report being released
Thursday.
But the employees could offer to
refer a victim to a mental-health counselor or certain other staffers who could
keep the story confidential.
The recommendation, one of 18 to
emerge from the report on campus sexual assault and misconduct, would be
unusual for so large a university, though
it has been adopted by some smaller colleges. But it’s perhaps not unexpected at
Penn State, which has been under intense scrutiny for more than three years,
after employees were accused of not
acting on allegations of child sex abuse
against former assistant football coach
Jerry Sandusky.
The rule, if adopted next month by
President Eric Barron, would require
most of the school’s 34,000 employees
to report to a campus official “all relevant details that have been disclosed to
them about any alleged sexual misconduct, including the names of the person
sharing the information and the alleged
perpetrator, if those names are known.”
An employee who failed to report an
allegation could face disciplinary action.
Currently, campus security authorities
are required under the federal Clery
Act to report sexual misconduct, but no
other employees are, unless the misconduct involves a child or the workers are
in a supervisory role that has certain expectations. The proposal may stir reaction among advocacy groups that worry
about the reluctance of victims to come
forward.
“I was a person who expressed some
concerns about that,” said Melissa K.
McCleery, a senior from Allentown
majoring in women’s studies, political
science and Spanish. “I think it can be
intimidating for students sometimes
Visit
[knowing] that if you disclose something, it could get handled in a way not
consistent with your wishes.”
But ultimately, said McCleery, who
served on the task force, “it’s a necessary piece to create an environment on
campus in which these issues are not
ignored.”
And there are safeguards built in, she
noted: The task force has recommended
that employees be advised to tell victims
they have an obligation to file a report
and offer the referral to a mental-health
counselor.
“The survivor is given a very specific choice,” McCleery said, which allows some “control” over what happens
next – important given the loss of power
many victims feel after an attack.
Damon Sims, vice president for student affairs and chair of the task force,
acknowledged that the recommendation “will be a change of some significance” and understands there may be
concern.
“It’s going to be complicated, and
the key will be how well we do the training,” Sims said.
The task force, established in July,
also is recommending that all employees receive mandatory annual training
about sexual assault.
Penn State is among a growing number of universities that are examining
their practices in the wake of increased
scrutiny over their handling of sexual assault and harassment.
More than 90 universities, including Penn State, are under review by the
federal Education Department for their
handling of sexual-assault cases. Some
universities also are facing lawsuits by
men who say they were falsely accused
and disciplined. In the first four months
of the academic year, 13 students at
Penn State’s main campus and four at
other campuses reported sexual misconduct, the task force stated. Last year,
there were 24 reports on the main campus and one at a branch campus.
The task force also recommended
that the university release annual or
semiannual data on sexual misconduct
on campus – more information than is
required by federal law.
The panel called for a closer review of
sanctions for sexual-misconduct violations, noting that some people reported
to the task force that they did not feel
the penalties were harsh enough.
It also found shortcomings in the
hearing process for sexual-assault cases.
The panel recommended that students no longer serve on panels that
hear cases and decide on sanctions.
Only trained faculty and staff would fill
that role. Also, an investigator would
interview victims, the accused and witnesses, then prepare a report for the
panel. Now, the victim and the accused
go before the panel and tell their stories.
Under the current system, “complainants must retell deeply troubling
and highly personal stories multiple
times, and do so before hearing panels
composed of complete strangers,” the
task force found. “Inappropriate and inflammatory statements about students’
prior sexual histories, emotional and
psychological difficulties or reputations
may be made in a hearing before they
can be stopped, thereby prejudicing decision-makers and inflicting more harm
on the parties.”
Under the new system, the victim
and accused would have the right to review the investigator’s report and make
comments before it is submitted to the
panel.
Among other recommendations in
the Penn State task force report:
Starting this spring, regular student
body surveys would be made about sexual assault. A new hire would oversee all
issues concerning Title IX, the federal
law that prohibits discrimination on the
basis of sex and requires universities to
investigate sexual assaults.
“Bystander” training would be offered so employees and students can
learn what to do if they see a potentially
harmful situation, not just limited to
sexual assault.
Sims said the task force has made the
president aware of its recommendations.
“We have some confidence that a
considerable portion of what we’re recommending will be accepted,” he said.
7
Man stole DVDs, threatened to stab
security officers at Blairsville store
By Paul peirce
Tribune-Review
TNS
State police in Indiana are seeking
the public’s help in locating a robber
who pulled a knife on security officers
after attempting to steal about $700
worth of DVDs from a Wal-Mart near
Blairsville.
Police are looking for Paul R. Good,
33, who has lived in Greensburg and
Jeannette, for questioning in connection with the 3:35 p.m. incident Tuesday at the store off Route 22 in Burrell.
Troopers said store security officers
approached Good as he tried to leave
the store without paying for 28 DVDs.
Trooper David Franks said Good
dropped the discs and ran out of the
store with security officers following.
“[Good] was caught, and he then
pulled a knife on Wal-Mart employees.
[Good] threatened to stab and bite
them if he was not released,” Franks
said.
After employees released him, Good
ran to a waiting white Ford F-150 with
an extended cab and a man and woman
inside. The truck had a full-length
black ladder on top and a silver tool
box in the truck bed, Franks said.
Police have active arrest warrants for
Good for thefts at retail stores in the
Latrobe and Hempfield areas.
In a similar theft of DVDs at a
Wal-Mart in Unity on Jan. 15, Good
was stopped by store personnel as he
attempted to leave with multiple discs,
but he discarded them as he ran out
of the store to a waiting vehicle about
1:40 p.m.
Good has an extensive criminal
record and in 2012 was sentenced to
serve up to three years in prison for a
robbery in the county. He is wanted for
violating parole as well, according to
state police.
Eric Frein pleads not guilty
By Andrew scott
Pocono Record
TNS
Eric Frein was formally arraigned
and pleaded not guilty Thursday to
charges of fatally shooting one state
trooper and wounding another outside
the state police station in Blooming
Grove in September.
A trial will be scheduled at a future
date.
Appearing healthy, Frein, of Canadensis, entered his plea of not guilty
by video from the Pike County Jail,
with defense attorney William Russo
present with him there and defense attorney Michael Weinstein present in
county court.
Frein has the right to file pretrial motions, such as to have certain evidence
suppressed or request a change of venue,
as well as notices of an alibi or mental
infirmity defense.
Seeking the death penalty if Frein is
convicted, District Attorney Raymond
Tonkin said he filed a notice of aggravating circumstances, which would be
used to argue for the death penalty if
Frein is convicted. Frein said he has seen
a copy of that notice of aggravating circumstances.
Frein allegedly fired multiple shots
sniper-style from a concealed location
near the Blooming Grove station on
the night of Sept. 12, 2014. Authorities
conducted a massive manhunt, lasting
nearly two months, in Barrett and Price
townships before U.S. marshals spotted and apprehended Frein in Pocono
Township on Oct. 30.
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8
January 30, 2015
(Brittany Persun/ The Penn)
News
First Feminist Friday of the
semester to discuss pop culture
By stephanie bachman
Staff Writer
[email protected]
(Photos by Alex Robinson/ The Penn)
The Health Hut on the ground floor of Suites on Maple East provided informative flyers and pins on stalking awareness
on Wednesday. (Bottom left) Patrick Dougherty (Indiana County District Attorney), Malinda Levis (IUP Haven Project
director), Hillery Cramer (Alice Paul House) and Corporal Justin Schawl (Indiana Borough Police) spoke about stalking
awareness at a panel hosted by the Center for Health and Well-Being. (Bottom right) Katie McKinney (junior, criminology)
and Amanda Peterson (sophomore, journalism) aided in handing out informational material about Stalking Awareness
Week.
Feminist Friday is back this semester
in order to provide a way for members
of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community to learn about and discuss issues pertaining to gender equality.
The first Feminist Friday of the semester will be held Friday from noon to
1 p.m. in G-60 in the Suites on Maple
East.
The discussion will be focused on
popular culture and violence against
women, especially as portrayed in the
media. It is part of the Haven Project’s
Stalking Awareness Week.
As part of the discussion, participants will watch Maroon 5’s “Animals”
music video and debate what kind of
message the video sends to its audience.
The conversation will be focused on the
video’s depiction of violence and relationships and gender roles.
This is the first Feminist Friday of
the semester, and there will be more to
come that will feature discussions, such
as the murder of black youth as a reproductive justice issue, how trends such as
“fitspiration” and “fitspo” influence eating disorders and body image, women
in the military, the Bill Cosby rape allegations and how to be an effective ally.
However, these topics may change
based on the interests of the participants
and major current events. Feminist
Friday wants to focus its conversations
around what the attendees’ interests are
and what is going on in the world, according to Alisia Drew, assistant director of Health AWAREness and Women’s
Programs at the Center for Health and
Well-Being. She stressed the importance
of Feminist Friday and why people
should come out and attend.
“Feminist Friday is a great opportunity for people to have good discussions
about sometimes sensitive or controversial topics in a safe place where they can
grow and learn without fear of being
judged,” Drew noted. “It also provides
an opportunity for faculty, students
and staff to network and identify how
we can come together to make social
change.”
Feminist Fridays provide a welcoming and safe environment free from
judgment for those who attend to have
civilized discussions on serious topics
that are of interest to everyone in attendance.
These events are open to all faculty,
staff and students, regardless of gender
identification.
Drew elaborated on the environment
of each Feminist Friday and discussed
some of the benefits of attending even
one of the events.
“I think the major benefit is having
the opportunity to hear the opinions of
the IUP community,” Drew said. “Everyone in attendance does not always
agree on the topics, but because it is a
safe space, we are able to learn and grow
from each other.”
For those interested in attending
future Feminist Fridays, the upcoming
dates will be Feb. 13, Feb. 27, March
27, April 10 and April 24.
The time is always noon-1 p.m., and
the location is G-60 in the Suites on
Maple East.
Opinion
Cartoon by Kristin May
Penn EDITORIAL
Tuition pilot plan is an
unguided solution
College students are currently increasing the holes in their wallets to pay for their
seemingly never-ending student loans, so the new tuition pilot plan is difficult for
some students to see passed.
Based on projections, the Indiana University of Pennsylvania will be in a budget
deficit of $19.7 million by 2017-2018, according to a Jan. 22 Pittsburgh PostGazette article.
The new tuition pilot set in place Jan. 22 will change IUP’s and other
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education schools’ flat rates of tuition and
make students pay per credit.
The new system will not affect the average college student taking 12 credits as
much as it will students who take up to 18 credits per semester in an attempt to
graduate early or with dual majors.
The potential raise in tuition has been a topic of debate for several Pennsylvania
news mediums.
“Finances are tight at IUP and at the other state-owned campuses,” said a Jan.
23 Post-Gazette editorial. “And they need to address their challenges.
“But finances are tight for Pennsylvania families, too, and this hike is unreasonably high. The board of governors made a mistake in shifting so much of the burden to its students, and the least it could have done was be up front in explaining
its double-digit tuition increase.”
We at The Penn agree with the notion that the institution’s financial struggles
shouldn’t be passed on to students. Education should be treated as an investment,
not a burden.
Putting the financial strain on already stressed students could deter them from
taking more than the minimum of 12 credits a semester to fulfill degree requirements.
Making what could be perceived as a backdoor policy change to generate more
revenue at students’ expense is wrong.
IUP should be fostering an environment of excellence, not one where students
are forced to strive for second-best because first is virtually, and financially, unattainable.
Editorial Policy
By NICOLE BRADLEY
[email protected]
Last week, the Board of Governors
approved a new tuition plan proposed
by IUP.
The plan involves the elimination
of the flat-rate tuition for full-time
students to charging a tuition cost percredit.
Based on much thought, this plan
is going to cause more harm than it
will to help the budget. This letter only
highlights the biggest consequences.
First enrollment, the flat-rate tuition costs that IUP currently offers is
a huge selling point of the university.
As a tour guide, it is something I often
hear families comment about and consider IUP over other universities.
One of the reasons for this plan was
because other universities have done
this, but by doing this IUP has just
eliminated one of its biggest competing
points.
Opinion
IUP is discouraging pursuit of academic excellence.
Due to this new plan, I’m being
forced to drop a minor I started because I can’t afford the extra 15 credits
left.
Also, had I known this was going to
happen halfway through my education,
I would not have picked up a second
degree.
Unfortunately, with around 60
credits in both degrees, I’m too far
along to drop one of the degrees, so I
will finish up both but will be looking
at a major debt by the time I graduate.
How many others are dropping minors or majors because they can’t afford
it – or how many are dropping out of
the university all together?
The university is sending a message
that education at IUP is a consumer
market versus an educational advancement.
As an IUP Ambassador, I love seeing
alumni who give back to IUP. I have
strong beliefs in philanthropy, which
raises some concerns with this new
plan.
If the university is charging students
an arm and a leg now causing student
debt, I predict a serious decrease in
alumni donations as time progresses.
This is bad, especially with a lot of
major projects being funded by philanthropy projects.
I foresee the only check to IUP the
future alumni will be writing is a check
to pay off loans.
Studies show an increase in university debt within the next few years, and
I understand the university is trying to
prepare for it with this plan. But this
new pilot program of charging tuition
per-credit, I believe, the university cannot afford, as it’ll cause more problems.
I encourage IUP leaders to reconsider this pilot program and look at
alternative means.
If tuition has to be increased, I
would suggest increasing the flat rate to
just a little under $4,000 in-state versus
changing to this new system.
January 30, 2015
The Penn editorial opinion is determined by the Editorial Board, with
the editor-in-chief having final responsibility. Opinions expressed in
editorials, columns, letters or cartoons are not necessarily that of The Penn, the
university, the Student Cooperative Association or the student body. The Penn is
completely independent of the university.
Letter Policy
The Penn encourages its
readers to comment on issues and
events affecting the Indiana University
of Pennsylvania community through
letters to the editor.
Letters must be typed in a sans serif,
12-point font, double-spaced and no
more than 350 words long.
Letters may not be signed by more
than five people, and letters credited
to only an organization will not be
printed.
All writers must provide their signature, university affiliation, address
and phone number for verification of
the letter.
The Penn will not honor requests
to withhold names from letters.
The Penn reserves the right to
limit the number of letters published
from any one person, from any one
organization or about a particular issue.
The Penn reserves the right to edit
or reject any letters submitted.
Submitted materials become the
property of The Penn and cannot be
returned.
Deadlines for letters are Sunday and
Wednesday at noon for publication in
the next issue.
Letters can be sent or
personally delivered to:
Editor-in-Chief,
HUB Room 235
319 Pratt Drive,
Indiana, PA 15701
Or emailed to: [email protected]
Letters not meeting the above
requirements will not be
published.
9
Wet Ink
THE PENN
Wet Ink Editor: Rachel Clippinger – [email protected]
Lead Wet Ink Writer: Andrew Milliken – [email protected]
Spring Panhellenic formal
recruitment for sororities
is in progress at IUP
By nikki santiago
Staff Writer
[email protected]
By Patrick kalie
Staff Writer
[email protected]
The day has finally come. You finally
get to watch Katy Perry perform live.
But, there’s a catch; you have to
watch millionaires play with an inflated
pig’s bladder for two hours before you
can jam out to “Firework.”
If you’re like millions of Americans
and don’t have an interest in this game
called football, this article will be your
guide for surviving the Super Bowl.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Wait for the commercials. Advertisements are usually the worst part of
the television experience, but during
the Super Bowl, commercials are a treat.
Corporations unveil their best material for this profitable Sunday night. A
30-second spot sells for $4 million and
is viewed by more than 110 million people. So, expect to see talking dogs and
people going to the extreme for a bag
of Doritos.
• If you’re not sure what’s going on,
mimic those around you. If they cheer,
you cheer. If they yell, “Come on, ref,”
you also need to show a look of disap-
10
proval. (Pro tip: Fans of any sport will
always hate the referees.) Think of clever
ways to taunt the refs. (Pro tip: They
cannot hear you.)
• Enjoy the food. This Sunday, you
can enjoy chips, chicken wings, nachos,
dip, and who can pass up those tiny hot
dogs? You can burn those calories off
later.
• Limit yourself to one question per
quarter. There is nothing more annoying to a football fan as when they have
to explain the history of football while
they are trying to enjoy the game. (Pro
tip: After you receive an answer, compliment them on their knowledge of the
sport.)
• Look for others that obviously have
no clue what’s going on. Once you find
them, go up to them and start a conversation about anything other than football. Chances are they are bored out of
their minds and are open to do anything
else than be where they are.
WHAT NOT TO DO
• Do not insult any of the players
until you have a clear understanding of
the crowd around you and who they are
rooting for. Football fans have a fervent
connection with their favorite teams
and dearest players. Insulting their beloved Tom Brady or Russell Wilson is
like insulting their mothers.
• If the game so happens to go into
overtime, do not talk about anything
else but the game. This one is self explanatory.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS
• Contemplate life. Why are you
here? What is your purpose? Is there any
life outside of Earth? Who let the dogs
out? You can just zone-out while looking at the TV, and nobody will be able
to notice because they are also staring at
the TV.
• Yell, “Fumble!” at random points
during the game. CAUTION: This may
make you lose a few die-hard football
fan friends, but at least it will entertain
you for a few seconds.
REMEMBER
• The quarterback is the one who
throws the ball.
• The kicker is the one who kicks the
ball.
• The referee is the idiot that looks
like a lost zebra.
If you follow this guide, you will survive Super Bowl Sunday. And remember: Baby, you’re a firework!
Sorority recruitment has started for
spring 2015.
This year, the recruitment will last
for two weeks instead of the usual oneweek process.
There are approximately 11 Panhellenic sorority panels on campus. There
are chapters statewide, representing sororities nationwide.
“Being a part of a sorority,” said
Mackenzie Hoerl (junior, natural science), Alpha Xi Delta’s membership
vice president, “has helped me learn
social-leadership and time-management
skills.”
Her advice to new recruiters is to go
into the potential recruitment with “an
open mind.”
“You might think you want to go
somewhere but decide on something
else instead,” she said.
All of the sororities have different recruitment and pledging processes.
“This year, the sorority recruitment
and process is more structured and
formal,” said Ashley Daniels (graduate,
student affairs and higher education),
who is the Greek life graduate assistant.
Sorority members were asked to
promote Greek life rather than their
particular sorority in the past few weeks
in order to help the women keep their
options open.
Wednesday was the kickoff for the
official spring recruitment for sororities
to join Greek life.
Members were asked to present their
sororities, explaining general information, the meaning of their colors and
philanthropies with a slideshow for potential new members.
Each sorority has a philanthropy organization for which they raise money
and awareness.
Some sororities have one they have
always stuck by, while others have several that they change from time to time.
The women are asked to go around
to the tables of the sorority to hear more
about which ones they liked best.
Then, the sororities and potential
new members rank their favorites from
one to 11.
They repeat this process throughout
the next two weeks, three more times
with smaller choices.
If the sorority also likes that new
member and she likes that particular
sorority, she will continue to get invited
back.
The first round commences Jan. 30
and 31. The second round is Feb. 1-2.
The third round is Feb. 5 and 6.
The women find out which sorority
has given them bids Feb. 7.
Women who accept their bids give
the name of the sorority to which they
pledge onstage in the Hadley Union
Building.
“Deflategate”
Play under review
Clip of a Marshawn Lynch
press conference
12th man
Clip of Russell Wilson crying
Cris Collinsworth says something
to make you mad
Katy Perry sings “Firework”
Tom Brady
Marshawn Lynch
crotch-grabbing
Macklemore sighting
“I’m going to Disney World!”
Bill Belicheck’s hoodie
Beer commercial
Richard Sherman is outspoken
Celebrity sighting
Gatorade dump
Jaunary 30, 2015
Wet Ink
Jaunary 30, 2015
Wet Ink
11
An international student’s guide
to understanding IUP
By casey kelly
Lead News Writer
[email protected]
(Alex Robinson/ The Penn)
The director of Bucknell University’s Griot Institute for African American Studies,
Carmen Gillespie, speaks to IUP students about the change we wish to see in the
world.
African American storyteller
comes to IUP to speak in
honor of MLK
By andrew milliken
Lead Wet Ink Writer
[email protected]
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. was humanized and his message examined by Bucknell University English
professor Carmen Gillespie in a quiet,
inspirational speech Thursday.
Gillespie spoke in the Hadley Union
Building Ohio Room as part of Be the
Change You Want to See in the World
Day, an event in Diversity Counts, a series sponsored by the African American
Cultural Center.
Gillespie has authored five books,
including critical reference works on influential African American authors Toni
Morrison and Alice Walker, and is also
the director of Bucknell’s Griot Institute
of Africana Studies.
Before she began to speak about one
of America’s most iconic figures – and
why that status is both deserved and
problematic – Gillespie began by asking everyone in the room, roughly a
dozen listeners, to reseat themselves
closer to her, adding a sense of intimacy
and community to the relatively small
crowd.
Then, Gillespie, in her calm, yet engaging, voice, presented a theme that
would run throughout her entire presentation. Gillespie explained the role of
a griot, a traditional West African storyteller who, along with family members,
was responsible for memorizing and
relaying the history and culture of West
Africa.
Gillespie explained that history is often dead, a series of events that fails to
retain much of the humanity that gave
them meaning in the first place. The griot, however, is something else entirely.
“One of the things I love about the
figure of the griot is that it’s alive,” Gillespie said. “It’s living history.”
Gillespie sought to convey this quality of “living history” in our nation’s
remembrance of King and his message,
one which continues to resonate deeply
in American culture.
It’s easy to remember King as a concept, some kind of Christ-like titan beyond reproach. Gillespie, however, seeks
to view King as a man.
She explained that this view of the
civil rights leader falls more in line with
his message of peace, humility, justice
and love, above all else.
“Dr. King’s life is one of the most
important mirrors that we have,” Gillespie said.
“What does that mirror demand of
us?”
Gillespie spoke with eloquence about
King’s idea of the “beloved community,”
a vision of a world not free from conflict, but one in which peace conquers
war, injustice is intolerable and conflicts
are resolved through mutual understanding rather than violence.
“Love is at the core of King’s message,” Gillespie said.
Nor is Gillespie content with the
concept of love as an intangible, romantic ideal. Just as King blended spirituality with academia, Gillespie explores
love as an academic concept that can be
applied to conflict resolution between
individuals, races or nations.
Following the day’s theme of changing the world for the better, Gillespie emphasized communication
as one of the most important tools
humans have for resolving differences.
“It’s not about erasing differences,” Gillespie said in an interview
following
her
speech.
“It’s about accepting differences,
being aware of our own preconceptions
and
deciding
what these differences mean to each of
us.”
The first time stepping foot on an
unfamiliar college campus can be overwhelming – especially if that campus is
located in a foreign country.
The Office of International Education and international students who
are familiar with Indiana University of
Pennsylvania gave advice to students
new to both IUP and the United States.
Gail Munzert, OIE receptionist, said
there are 880 total international students are IUP.
Last semester, there were 353 new
international students, and this semester IUP has gained 89 new exchange
students.
“The OIE has new-internationalstudent orientation one week before
domestic students start,” Munzert said.
“At this orientation, we go over an IUP
overview, U.S. culture, walking tours of
campus, bus tours of Indiana, welcome
dinners, a student life fair and numerous social events.”
Many international students have
thrived at IUP from the OIE’s help with
their transitions.
Thais Campos (junior, fashion merchandising and business management),
from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been at IUP
for three years and became a community assistant in Ruddock and Maple
East halls.
“Usually I like to study in the study
rooms in the suites,” Campos said.
“It’s a quiet and comfortable place
that’s free of distractions. When I’m
Be brave and learn from your
mistakes. Ask and discover.
- Hsin-Jou Lee,
sophomore, music performance
not hanging out in the Oak Grove,
I’ll be either around in the suites
or at the football field.”
Campos said that one thing she
was initially confused about upon
moving to Indiana was the housingsystem because it is more common for
students in Brazil to commute to school
rather than to live on campus.
By asking questions and being openminded, she eventually became familiar
enough with on-campus living to become a CA.
“Get involved in as many things that
interest you as possible, especially during your first year,” Campos said. “It’s
comfortable to stick around with people
from your country, but it’s also important to make friends with different types
of people. The more you talk to people,
your English will improve.”
Another student, Younghwa Son
(senior, management information systems), came to IUP from South Korea
one year ago and said that one thing he
wishes he knew more about was how tuition works.
“I actually did not know how I could
pay tuition and which one is the cheapest way pay,” he said. “I also did not
know how I could drop a class.”
Son’s biggest piece of advice for new
international students is to take advantage of the office of international education and ask professors for help.
Both of these resources are more
than willing to help students with their
adjustment to both the country and the
campus, he said.
Hsin-Jou Lee (sophomore, music
performance) is an exchange student
from Taiwan who spends most of her
time at IUP practicing piano in Cogswell Hall.
“There are a lot of amazing grand
Steinway pianos in Cogswell for me
to practice on,” she said. “I also study
here and have lunch or dinner with my
roommate in the lounge. It’s my second
home in Indiana.”
Lee also said it is helpful for new students to become familiar with the bus
schedule. Additionally, she suggested
bringing a map around campus to avoid
getting lost when looking for classroom
buildings.
Overall, Lee said that the hardest
thing for international students to overcome is the fear to speak English on a
daily basis.
“Be brave and learn from your mistakes,” she said. “Ask and discover.”
BY THE NUMBERS
880
60
353
Total number of international students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Countries represented by IUP students
New international students to IUP during the 2014-15 school year
Sports
THE PENN
Sports Editor: Cody Benjamin – [email protected]
Lead Sports Writer: Michael Kiwak – [email protected]
IUP women on the rise in basketball polls
Crimson Hawks men also ascend four spots to No. 21 ranking in Division II Top 25 poll
By CODY BENJAMIN
Sports Editor
[email protected]
The Crimson Hawks are on the rise.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
has been climbing in the standings but
also in the polls, thanks to conferenceleading records on the basketball court.
Both the men’s and women’s teams
have posted prominent winning streaks,
and now their performances are garnering nationwide attention from coaches.
After two blowout victories last week,
the women’s team has ascended to a No.
5 ranking in the USA Today NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches poll.
Last positioned at No. 13 in the
poll, which was updated Tuesday, the
IUP women have won all but one of its
first 18 games in its best start since the
program earned the same ranking for an
18-1 record in the 2007-08 season.
The women’s team, which won a
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
championship during the 2007-08 campaign, isn’t far removed from the top
three teams in the poll, at least according to regular season standings.
Lewis University remains atop the
poll with a 19-0 record while Emporia
State University (16-1) and the Univer-
12
sity of Alaska-Anchorage (18-1) hold
the second- and third-place standings
in the Division II poll for women’s basketball.
IUP’s women’s team, which ranks
atop the PSAC in scoring offense – 79.1
points per game – and defense – 56.4
points allowed per game – also holds a
No. 1 ranking in the Atlantic Region
media poll.
Headlined by top scorers Lindsay
Stamp (senior, criminology/pre-law)
and Ashley Stoner (senior, English), the
latter of whom topped the 1,000-point
mark for her career, IUP also leads the
league in field goal percentage.
The Crimson Hawks men’s team has
had its own run of success in the polls,
too.
IUP moved up four positions in
the National Association of Basketball
Coaches Division II Top 25 poll to the
No. 21 spot after victories over the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and
Clarion University.
The only PSAC school in the rankings, IUP finished just 10 points behind
the University of Wisconsin-Parkside
for the No. 20.
Both IUP basketball teams will return to action Saturday when they host
Tevin Hanner (junior, sociology) fights for the ball in IUP’s victory over Pitt-Johnstown.
Seton Hill University at the Kovalchick
Convention and Athletic Complex.
For the men’s team, senior Devante
Chance (communications media) might
have an opportunity to join Stamp and
Stoner as 1,000-point IUP scorers.
Chance, who ranks among the top
12 players in the PSAC in all three
shooting categories, enters the weekend
needing just 42 points to become the
29th player in program history to reach
the historic mark.
(Daniel Kirby/ The Penn)
Chance and the men’s team will look
to capture their 18th win of the season Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. matchup
at home against Seton Hill University,
while the women will tip off the same
day at 5:30 p.m.
UPCOMING GAMES
S TAT S L E A D E R S
MEN
PPG
3FGs
Devante Chance - 15.3
Shawn Dyer - 48
Lidsay Stamp - 20.6
Leslie Stapleton - 34
REBOUNDS
STEALS
WOMEN
1.31
vs. Seton Hill
1.31
vs. Seton Hill
2.4
vs. California
2.4
vs. California
2.7
vs. Gannon
2.7
@ Gannon
2.11
@ Mercyhurst
2.11
@ Mercyhurst
Shawn Dyer - 106
Devante Chance - 38
2.14
@ Edinboro
2.14
@ Edinboro
Lindsay Stamp - 151
Amy Fairman - 46
BASKETBALL
January 30, 2015
Sports
January 30, 2015
Sports
13
Dunkin’ on Division II
Daddy Ugbede (junior, communications media) reaches for the tipoff in IUP’s win vs. Pitt-Johnstown. (Daniel Kirby/ The Penn)
Lindsay Stamp (senior, crimonoloy/pre-law) surveys the court for the Crimson Hawks. (Nick Dampman/ The Penn)
Devon Cottrell (junior, communications media) warms up. (Daniel Kirby/ The Penn)
14
January 30, 2015
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January 30, 2015
Sports
15
NOTES, PREDICTIONS AND OPINIONS
ON THE WORLD OF SPORTS
By MICHAEL KIWAK
Lead Sports Writer
[email protected]
Over the course of 16 games, 32
NFL teams battled one another for the
right to compete in the playoffs. This
whittled the field of teams down to 12,
where they put everything on the line
with the hope of advancing on to the
next stage.
Now, it has all come down to the
final two standing: the New England
Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. Echoing Seahawks running back Marshawn
Lynch, these teams are “just about that
action, boss.”
On Sunday evening, the two No. 1
seeds will wage what should be an epic
battle in front of a gigantic national audience. Expect this Super Bowl to beat
last year’s viewership rating of 111.5
million viewers, according to Nielsen.
There is no shortage of narratives
heading into this matchup. We have
the Seahawks looking to become the
first back-to-back champions since
New England accomplished the feat a
decade ago, Tom Brady vs. Russell Wilson, “Deflategate,” Lynch vs. the media
and, generally speaking, the two teams
America loves to hate.
But in the end, it all comes down to
which team brings its A-game on the
gridiron. As soon as they line up for the
opening kickoff, all of the narratives,
hot takes and speculation will silence.
The only noise left will be the gentle
roar of the crowd as the world awaits
the meeting of toe to leather.
What will ensue can be only described as a battle of the titans.
The Seahawks glided through the
regular season with an old, yet proven,
credo: Dominate on defense, and be
efficient on offense. Over the course of
the season, Seattle allowed a league-low
15.9 points per game defensively. That’s
insanely good.
A great deal of this can be attributed
to the team’s secondary: the Legion of
Boom. Pound for pound, this is the best
starting back four in football, and it’s
not even close. Many will be quick to
point out cornerback Richard Sherman
as the best player on this unit. While
that might be true, it is Earl Thomas
who is most vital to this defense’s success.
The free safety’s incredible instincts
and top-flight athleticism allows Seattle
to run their base Cover 3 and Cover 1
schemes as well as they do. It’s what allows everyone else in the secondary to
do what they do best. For Sherman and
fellow cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and
Jeremy Lane, it allows them to play the
man coverage at which they so greatly
excel. For strong safety Kam Chancellor, it allows him to be the big-hit-laying
enforcer that protects the short and intermediate levels of the field.
While the schematic intricacies of Seattle’s back four are surprisingly simple,
the front seven is a tad more complicated. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
adds wrinkles to his base 4-3 defense,
as he likes to trot out different rotations
and utilize 3-4 looks. During one play, a
linebacker – such as Bruce Irvin – might
act as a conventional pass rusher, and on
the very next play Irvin might line up in
a more traditional role and drop back
into coverage. Together, these two units’
cohesion with one another and top-tier
execution is what makes Seattle such a
dominating defense; they’re the quintessence of a well-oiled machine.
Another impressive aspect of the
defense is that they rarely have to blitz
to see that the pass rush gets home. For
the Patriots with what has proven to be
an inconsistent offensive line, it will be
imperative that the unit does not get
overpowered by Seattle’s traditional
four-man rush.
In the battle of New England’s offense vs. Seattle’s defense, this is the key
matchup of the contest.
If the Patriots can handle that traditional pass rush – specifically, defensive
end Michael Bennett – and give Brady
time, they can pick Seattle apart. This
will force Seattle to blitz to get Brady off
of his game, which opens a whole new
realm of possibilities for New England’s
offense. Nothing is guaranteed against
this defense, but it gives them a lot better chance to succeed.
Another element of this matchup is
New England’s x-factor: tight end Rob
Gronkowski. He’s the best tight end in
football, and you better believe Seattle is
well aware of that. They’re going to key
on him, so the rest of the offense must
take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
Even then, it will truly have to be
“A Gronking to Remember” if the Pats
want to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
On the other side of the spectrum,
there will be different tests for both
teams’ opposite units.
Seattle is a run-first team, which
doesn’t exactly bode well for the Patriots. In all of New England’s losses during the regular season, the opposing
team put up at least 100 yards against
them on the ground. Additionally, the
Seahawks will most likely run the read
option frequently, of which the Patriots have not faced much. If they can’t
contain the 1-2 punch of Wilson and
Lynch, it might get ugly for the Pats.
Conversely, the Seahawks must keep
their game plan varied. New England
will undoubtedly key in on the run, and
they have an impressive troupe of disciplined players in the front seven that
can do so very well, so it will be vital to
get the passing game going to keep the
Pats guessing. This is where New England’s arguably biggest advantage comes
in, as its secondary is a top-five unit in
its own right.
It’s their biggest advantage because of
the unit they’ll be lining up against.
Seattle’s wide receiver corps, headlined by Doug Baldwin, is far from elite.
In fact, they’re the definition of average
(Sorry, Doug). They were largely nonexistent for most of the NFC Championship Game, as Green Bay did an
excellent job of blanketing them, therefore forcing Wilson to make some risky
throws. This great coverage, combined
with receiver miscues, paid off in the
form of four interceptions from Wilson,
a career high. New England’s coverage,
headlined by cornerback Darrelle Revis,
will have to perform as well as Green
Bay’s if they hope to keep Seattle quiet.
It goes farther than that, though, as
the Seahawks’ receivers have an uncanny
ability to show up in the biggest moments, which is a huge reason why the
team was able to pull off that miracle
comeback a couple of weeks ago. What
they lack in sheer talent, they more than
make up for in heart and determination.
When the game goes down to the
wire, and I’m fairly sure that it will,
New England has to match that level of
determination and heart. Call it cliché,
but it’s not going to be just a battle of
technique, but a battle of wills.
I think we’re in for a damn good Super Bowl, folks. New England is a better
team than last season’s Denver Broncos,
but will it be enough to surmount a Seahawks team that isn’t much different
from last year’s iteration? In fact, given
the increased amount of big-game experience, I’d go so far as to say that they’re
a better team this year – despite some
injuries and free agency departures.
This is such a difficult game to predict. These two teams personify the
word “elite,” and both appear to have
plenty of motivation. For the Pats, they
will undoubtedly want to silence all of
their critics due to all of this Deflategate nonsense. For the Seahawks, the
team is coming off one of the greatest
wins in playoff history and is a victory
away from being the first back-to-back
champions since George W. Bush was
president.
With all of that being said, it’s decision time.
I’m going with Seattle in a nail-biter,
24-23. For MVP, I’m going with the
man who should have won it last year,
Chancellor.
Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. on NBC. I
hope you all enjoy the game, the commercials and last but certainly not least,
the unhealthy-but-delicious party food.
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