March/April 2017
what’s in THIS ISSUE
Volume 56 Issue 2
Sigma Tau Delta Hosts First “Dooza Palooza” Event By Rebecca Dunst Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Dunst
Crusaders Close Out Neumann
ReJeana Goldsborough (left) and Colton McLauglin (right) getting ready for a game of trivia at the Dooza Palooza.
it was an internal success,” Goldsborough said. Secretary Victoria Neal said about the cancellation, “It was a bummer people didn’t want to be there a second day. Overall, we want to see this organization rise.” Two of the games played were “Pin the hat on Abraham Lincoln” and a game they called “Cup-A-Roo,” which was like the carnival game where payers throw balls at cups to try and knock them down. The real action of the Dooza Palooza was in the trivia matches. Two memorable team names created by Sigma Tau Event Coordinator ReJeana Goldsborough
On Tuesday, February 20, Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honors Society, hosted what they called a “Dooza Palooza” to recruit students to join. There will be an induction for all new members at the end of the semester. Originally, the palooza was supposed to span two days but was cancelled due to lack of attendance. “I think many people were intimidated by the idea of a two day palooza and that’s why we didn’t see a large turnout. But it did get us, the officers, talking about what we can do to get more interest for Sigma Tau. So
Continued on page 3
New Year, New Name, Same Purpose Study Abroad!
Stay Fit for the Summer
Services For Success
Since 2002, Alvernia’s tutoring center has been helping students on campus and has gone through many changes over the years. Now, they are experiencing a name change: The Academic Success Center! The new name does not change the services that they offer to both students and faculty. The tutoring center started off with four tutors on staff that specialized in writing and Spanish. Anyone else on staff were volunteers. Now, the tutoring center has between 25 to 30 peer tutors for the academic year, as well as two graduate assistants and three professional tutors on staff. Within the Academic Success Center, there are many services offered, but there is one main goal that everyone tries to accomplish. “Our goal is to provide seamless support for all students,” Megan King, an Academic Learning Specialist, said. With this goal in mind, the center offers specific subject tutoring for many subjects offered on campus. If there are no tutors available for a particular subject, the student can put in a request for the specific class. Then, the center will work directly with
the individual or a professor to find someone to tutor them. The tutoring itself is peer based, and they are available to help students with their papers at any point in the writing process. Examples include finding sources for research, organizing the information you find from your research, transitions between paragraphs, organization of paragraphs once it is written out and much more. The tutors are able to assist with grammar and citations, but their focus is to
try to improve upon what the student has written. The center also offers Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions. These are specifically for anatomy and physiology classes, and the SI sessions are different than a normal study group. There are SI leaders, who are heavily trained and sit in on the classes they will be running sessions for, who create the subject matter for the session based on the content being learned in class. The SI sessions are run twice a week and anyone is able to attend.
By Justin Herforth Contributing Editor
Continued on page 5
Photo courtesy of Kristen Sipling
By Kristen Sipling Contributing Writer
Real-World Experience with Crusader Sports Network
Caroline McCormick prepares for an upcoming appointment in the Academic Success Center.
The Crusader Sports Network is a student-run work study program that webcasts most sporting events at Alvernia University. It provides an outlet for students with a passion for sports broadcasting to gain experience on and off air. The different roles available to students include play-by-play broadcaster, color commentator, producer, cameraman, sideline reporter and highlight producer. The program provides hands-on experience that complements learning in a classroom setting. Over the past year, the Crusader Sports Network (CSN) has gone through a transition in leadership. Brad Vangeli took over for the graduating Ryan Shannon, working relentlessly to maintain and improve the broadcasting quality. Working with CSN has helped Vangeli gain valuable real-world experience. “The best thing that this job has done for me is give me Continued on page 3
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worrall files
March/April 2017
Managing Editor Mady Johnston Layout Mady Johnston Paige Burkett Jaliza Cruz Andrew Dotter Justin Herforth Section Editors Paige Burkett Justin Herforth Katerina Lawlor Ryan Weber Contributing Writers Andrew Dotter Rebecca Dunst Danny Flanagan Kristen Sipling Nick Youngkin Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange
The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University. To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.
Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.
The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.
© 2017 The Alvernian
The March/April Worrall Files Over the past year, Alvernia has supported 47 students with Real World Learning Awards, which provide up to $2,000 each for students to access a variety of learning experiences—cool things like: Junior Psychology major Arielle Phillips to Study Abroad at Beifang University, China over the summer; Sophomore Nursing major Shauna Redanauer for an Alternative Break trip to the Dominican Republic over winter break; Senior Healthcare Science and Psychology major Melisa Rivera for an Alternative Break trip to Maryville, Tenn. over the summer; Senior Occupational Therapy major Leah Benedetti for academic fieldwork over the spring semester; and Junior Communication major Matthew Baer to take part in The exceptional Washington Center Program over the spring semester. But what make those experiences “Real World Learning (RWL)?” We at the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement (HCCGE) have recently begun to have conversations on campus to determine the answer to that very question. So far we have identified six types of RWL that we have at Alvernia. They are: Internships: These are experience-based learning activities in which students work with practicing professionals in a formal workbased environment. These may include both credit and non-credit bearing experiences, and may sometimes carry a stipend or other financial benefit for the student. Clinical experiences, practica, fieldwork, and student teaching are all kinds of experiences that would be classified under the broader umbrella term of Internships. Project-Based Curricular Experiences: These are learning experiences which are done within the context of
Photo courtesy of Carey Manzolillo
t h e alver n ian
Vol. 56 Issue 2
Jay Worrell, Director, Holleran Center for Community Engagement
an academic course offering. Service-Learning courses which include a formal relationship with a non-profit organization are the most typical kind of this RWL opportunity currently offered at Alvernia, but all courses that utilize relationships with external organizations to further learning outcomes fall into this category, regardless of whether the organization is a non-profit, governmental, community or for-profit entity. Community Based Research: Faculty-led or directed research experiences which include external partners. External partners may include formal organizations, or the data or phenomena being studied may be outside of the university--in a park, school, business, city or other location. Study Abroad: Learning experiences done by Alvernia students in remote locations, either actually “Abroad” or in other locations in the United States. These will either be Alvernia faculty-led experiences, or may be offered by another institution in partnership with Alvernia’s Office of Global Learning. Extra- or Co-Curricular
Experiences: Learning experiences done outside the Institution in partnership with an external entity, but not part of credit-bearing coursework or internship experiences. Examples of this include Community Service and Alternative Breaks, but also participation in university-sponsored external activities such as the South Reading Youth Initiative, Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, Educational Programming done for the community such as camps, student clubs who engage with external partners, or Bog Turtle Creek Farm. Work-Study: University employment usually undertaken as part of a student’s financial aid package and done with University departments or external partners. So what is Real World Learning then? Our working definition: RWL at Alvernia leverages relationships with external partners to develop life-changing educational experiences which deliver and enhance learning and vocational outcomes for students. That last bit is important. We are hoping to create experiences that deliver both sub-
stantial learning outcomes for students, but also help direct them to a career—the kind of thing that might appear on your resume, even if it does not always appear on your academic transcript. RWL does not replace classroom experience, rather, it builds upon the skills taught in the classroom, and relies upon the contextual learning done on campus to make RWL experiences meaningful, impactful, and career-building. RWL also help students develop and sharpen the so-called “soft skills” that employers tell us are essential for workers who can be successful in today’s workforce. Students—can you help us further refine our understanding of RWL? Can you help us create real life-changing experiences for Alvernia University students of all kinds? We need your help! If you are willing to share your thoughts with Dr. Jodi Radosh, Associate Director of HCCGE and I, please reach out to me at 610-796-8371 or jay. worrall@alvernia.edu, and I will be in touch to set up a time for us to talk.
Mission Moment “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -- Mahatma Gandhi
campus news March/April 2017
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Sigma Tau Delta Hosts a “Dooza Palooza” (Cont’d pg. 1) ough said. The first round of questions was President’s Day themed, while round two was identifying the song and artists based on the first few notes. As prizes for these games and for following Sigma Tau Delta’s social media accounts, the club gave away several
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Dunst
and Vice President Colton McLauglin were “ReJeana’s Rockin’ Rambunctious Rendezvous” and “Clifton the Small Brown Cat.” “I named my team ReJeana’s Rockin’ Rambunctious Rendezvous because there’s two things in this world I love most: Alliteration, and myself,” Goldsbor-
Sigma Tau Delta’s Information table from the palooza.
gift cards from Target and Dunkin Donuts. Neal said, “It was great to see all the people who attended the Palooza! Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and winning the prizes!” Per the official Sigma Tau Delta website, the organization “strives to confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. Members must exhibit high standards of academic excellence and serve society by fostering literacy.” Their page on Alvernia’s website says about our local chapter, “For the past 15 years, the Kappa Pi Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta has been recognized nationally as a ‘most active chapter’ … Alvernia students have presented their scholarly and creative work, participated on panels, theatrical skits and bad poetry competitions, won over $4,750 in scholarships and awards… and other fundrais-
ers, trips to poetry readings, regional conference participation, and other activities, the Kappa Pi Chapter offers students both opportunities for fun and recognition for academic excellence.” To be a member of Sigma Tau, a student must have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in first year English. The candidate must have a minimum of a B or equivalent average in English and in general scholarship Students do not have to be majoring or minoring in English to be a member. Members of the Sigma Tau Delta Alvernia chapter will also be attending a threeday convention in Louisville, Kentucky on March 29 until April 1. Speakers will include Marlon James, author of “Book of Night Women,” New York Times Best-Selling author Jeff VanderMeer, and
Megan Mayhew Bergman, author of “Almost Famous Women.” At the convention, students will be presenting two panels on conspiracy theories and horror films. Goldsborough, among other students, will also be presenting on solo projects such as short stories and research projects. “Well, my short story ‘Montgomery Men’ was accepted to be showcased, which means I have to read it out loud, so that’s definitely what I’m looking forward to the least,” she said. Other events will include an Open Mic Night, Bad Poetry Contests, and a Red and Black Gala. For more information, students can contact Beth DeMeo at MaryBeth.DeMeo@ alvernia.edu or Carrie Fitzpatrick at Caroline.Fitzpatrick@alvernia.edu.
broadcasting the games as a play-by-play, color analyst, or sideline reporter, camera operators and producers are vital to making the broadcasts run smoothly. They are the unsung heroes that bring it all together to help the viewer feel as if they are in attendance. One person who has been with CSN since the beginning is Matt Saxon. “Working behind the scenes for CSN has been a great experience. I would have to thank Ryan Shannon for giving me an opportunity to work for this network. It
has been great to see how far it has come from its first year of just four employees to having around eight now,” Saxon said. “However being behind the scenes is the best part in my opinion. I think it is great that we can provide a spectacular webcast to families that may not be able to get out and see their children play due to the distance. We work hard to make it look as professional as possible for them and keep them connected.” To stay connected with what is going on in Alvernia
sports and when the next broadcasts are, follow CSN on Twitter, at @Vern_CSN.
Real-World Experience with Crusader Sports Network (Cont’d pg.1)
Photo courtesy of Polly Mathys
experience that you would get at a real job,” Vangeli said. “Being able to go live and talking informatively about both teams playing on the fly is something you cannot learn in a classroom. You need to gain the experience by actually applying the concepts you learn. You have to jump right in there. If I didn’t jump right in there in my freshman year, I’m not sure I would be where I’m at now.” One of the biggest lessons to be learned in broadcasting is never to panic when things do not work out as planned. An example of this for CSN
was during this year’s Alvernia-Albright rivalry game in men’s basketball. “We had been having difficulties with our internet connection all night long for no reason whatsoever and at halftime of the game we completely lost our stream,” Vangeli said. “Our whole staff remained calm and we were able to get the stream back up after a lot of hard work. We got to give our viewers a tremendous ending to a great game. That was all because of the great communication we had as a team that night.” Along with being on-air by
Photo courtesy of Justin Herforth
Crusader Sports Network before the first Men’s Volleyball home match on February 10, 2017. (From left, Justin Herforth, Brad Vangeli, JR Gondeck and Matt Saxon.)
Postgame interview with Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Miller following a win vs. Penn State Berks on November 22, 2016. (L-R: Justin Herforth and Coach Mike Miller.)
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sports
March/April 2017
Vol. 56 Issue 2
Crusaders Close Out Neumann 14-12
Photo courtesy of Jon King.
Andrew Richie and Jarrett Abernathy celebrating a 1-0 lead. By Danny Flanagan Contributing Writer
On February 22, the Crusaders men’s lacrosse team edged out Neumann in their home opener 14-12. Both sides continued to pump goals into the net, turning the game into an offensive showcase. This time, the Crusaders showed that they are a team that can give consistent effort for 60 minutes. Sophomore midfielder Jarrett Abernathy put together a
great offensive performance notching three goals on the night. “It’s easy when you’re surrounded by good players, I just took shots when I had to”, Abernathy said. Abernathy’s skillful play was also felt on defense gathering six ground balls during the game. “My mindset was who’s going to make the next play? I knew if I did then we would still be in the game.” The Neumann defense was
no slouch. Goalie Brendan Risley was feeling it in the cage making sixteen saves on the night. Defender Alex Rucci’s impact on the game was felt with a total of five ground balls. Fellow teammate Conor Esworthy was skillful on the defensive end creating two caused turnovers to help his team. Even with Neumann’s defensive production, the Crusaders were able to match their effort and intensity. Senior long stick midfielder Matt Saxon was a force to be reckoned with causing four turnovers. Saxon’s constant hustle was rewarded with six key ground balls during the game. “When you put trust into the defensive system it makes ground balls a lot easier,” Saxon said. Having Saxon’s presence on the Crusader defense will be crucial for this team to win games this season. However, Neumann would
not go down quietly. Star attackman Chase Fraser tallied a total of four goals for the game. Talented midfielder Adam Fagan put three goals in the back of the net. When it seemed like Neumann had regained control, the Crusaders offense answered back with an offensive threat of their own. Team captain Andrew Richie was dominant from the attack notching four goals. “I was just in the right spot at the right time, those guys put the ball in my hand and I delivered”, Richie said. Richie was locked in from the beginning only turning the ball over twice all game. “I turned on the switch. We are a different team from last year and I wanted to prove it”, Richie said. As a leader on the field, Richie was able to keep his teammates calm, even when Neumann had the lead. “I knew I had to stay loose and positive for guys
to calm down. We needed to play like we were having fun”, Richie said. Keeping the Crusaders mentally prepared to win was key to the Crusaders success. The Crusaders must be able to play as a cohesive unit for 60 minutes in order to string wins together. Next up for the Crusaders is a game at Centenary College, a team they lost to 6-12 last year. A win against the Cyclones will send the Crusaders lacrosse program in the right direction.
By Nick Youngkin Contributing Writer The fourth seeded Crusaders fell to the fifth seeded Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley, 76-66. The loss ended the Crusader pursuit of post-season play despite a dramatic comeback run in the last five minutes. Alvernia was awarded the fourth seed and a home “play-in” game for the MAC playoffs against the Dutchmen. The Crusaders had a golden opportunity to clinch the second seed and host a semifinal game, but they lost the season finale to Widener, causing them to drop in the standings. Despite not continuing on toward the MAC championship, the Crusader season had some bright spots that deserve recognition. One such highlight of the season was the team’s trip to Miami Beach over the winter break. Eastern University hosted a tournament for Division III teams to compete in at LaSalle High School in Miami, Florida. The tournament featured many Pennsylvania schools including Gwynedd Mercy, Susquehanna, Eastern and Alvernia. With the daily practices and games over the break,
the Crusaders had to stay on campus while other students were at home with family and friends. The trip to Miami was a good get away for the team to have some fun in beautiful weather and play the game of basketball. “The Miami trip was very fun and I think we grew closer as a team,” sophomore point guard George Williams said. The Crusaders split their two games in Miami, dropping a close one to Buffalo State and beating Goucher by a large margin. Although they would have liked to win both games, the trip was about more than basketball. The team got to experience Miami and walk around the streets to explore the beautiful city, as well as take some time to visit the stunning Miami Beach. Overall, the trip was a good relaxation period during a long and grueling season. Another highlight of the season was the Crusader season opener, an exhibition game against Division I team Central Connecticut State. This game was special because it featured two family members on opposing teams. Alvernia senior Marquis Marshall was going up against his dad’s team.
Photo courtesy of Jenna Harper.
Crusader Basketball Ends Without Championship Banner
Marquis Marshall and Yeltsen Etienne pose for a picture on senior night against Widener.
Former NBA player and current head coach of Central Connecticut, Donyell Marshall, also has other Reading ties. Alvernia head coach Mike Miller had coached Donyell Marshall when he played at Reading High School in the 1980s. “The game was very special because I got to play against my dad’s team and he got to see me play in person,” Marquis Marshall said. The Crusaders lost a close game, 78-71, but the game taught the team important lessons they took through the season. The Crusaders finished the 2016-17 season with an overall record of 15-11. They will lose two seniors, Marquis
Marshall and Yeltsen Etienne. Marshall was recently named MAC conference player of the year after averaging an impressive 22 points and 9 rebounds per game. The Crusaders were also led by starters Mike Miller, Alex Shippen, George Williams and Reid Hoff. Williams averaged 16 points per game in his first season in a Crusaders uniform, while Shippen and Miller averaged 13 and 12 points respectively. With four starters returning, the Crusaders hope to improve this offseason and capture their goal of a MAC championship in 201718. “We are going to work very hard this offseason to improve both individually
and as a team,” Mike Miller Jr. said. The Crusaders will look to add a strong recruiting class to go along with the returning contributors. With hard work and dedication, the Crusaders hope to start next season strong and finish with a MAC Championship.
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“A lot of people think that this is just a place where they can get tutoring, but there is a lot more that we do here,” Danielle Saad, Associate Dean for Academic Success, said. “But this is where students can come to get their advising questions answered too.” Another thing offered in the center is the opportunity for academic coaching. A student has the ability to meet with someone one-on-one to discuss and learn about study skills, time management and reading strategies. But these skills are also incorporated into the normal tutoring sessions to teach the students to become more self-sufficient in their study habits or more confident in their writing ability. The services of the center have not changed much since it was created, but they are getting a new name this year. Previously known as the Educational Planning Center, the new name comes from looking at other universities’
names for their own tutoring centers, which allows people to associate the center with the services they might be familiar with elsewhere here at Alvernia. “It’s a name common at other universities for a similar suite of services,” Saad said. “We didn’t think that people knew what educational planning meant or what it encompassed. So we changed it to something that can encompass all that we do.” The goal behind the name change is to bring awareness to both staff and students that help and what type of help is able to be provided. To assist with the branding for the new name, Saad came up with the idea to include students in the process. An email was sent out to the peer tutors, SI leaders and other staff within the Academic Success Center. If they were interested, they were asked to create an idea or sketch that could be used to create the final logo for
By Paige Burkett Contributing Editor
students out of their comfort zone so they can experience life in a new environment. Travelers can learn a new language, interact with new people of other cultures and expand their horizons and independence. On this journey, you will make lasting friendships with people who will help you tell stories of your amazing adventures together for years to come. “My favorite place that we visited was Spain because the city we went to was so old and everything had so much history behind it… and I also loved the people there, everyone was super friendly,” said Kristen Sipling, a junior who studied abroad in Cheltenham, England. Study abroad is very affordable. All pre-approved programs are payable with Alvernia tuition and your financial aid most of the time will travel with you. While the financial aspect is important, many aspects of the study abroad opportunities almost out-way that. For example, going abroad during college will set you apart from other students when you are looking for a job in the future. Many employers consider study abroad an experience to
the ASC. The students then followed the style guide given to them by the marketing department at Alvernia so it followed university standards, and went to work! Five entries were submitted, and the students and faculty at Alvernia were able to vote on their favorite design. A table was set up in the commuter lounge in Bernardine Hall from February 27 through March 3, with the winner announced after everyone returned from Spring break. Congratulations to the winner, Kaylea DeLuca! She will be working closely with Alvernia’s marketing department to create a final image to represent the ASC. Including the large work study groups who are familiar with the work being done in the ASC played an important part in the process because they want to see the Center succeed. And who better to ask than students to design something that will be seen
Photo courtesy of Kristen Sipling
New Year, New Name, Same Purpose (Cont’d pg. 1)
The board where students created new logos, and they were posted for ASC staff to vote for their favorite design.
by other students on campus! If you have any questions about the new name or any of the services provided within the Academic Success Center, do not hesitate to stop by BH 205! The hours are Monday
to Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also email learning. center@alvernia.edu or call (610) 568-1494 with questions.
Do you dream of traveling the world one day? There is no better time to see what the world has to offer than when you are in college and don’t yet have the full obligations and responsibilities of a real adult. Lucky for you, Alvernia offers a great study abroad program that could help you explore and learn in a different country. The majority of Alvernia’s study abroad program is run through Arcadia University. Arcadia is very well-known for their study abroad opportunities and works with many universities to ensure that students make the most out of their college career. Most study abroad programs are a semester long, so you have the option of going in the fall or the spring. Some of the options of locations for the semester programs include Austria, Belgium, China, England, Ecuador, Greece, India, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and New Zealand. There are also summer programs available that will take you to Ireland, New Zealand, England, Morocco, Italy, Spain or Austria. Studying abroad pushes
Photo courtesy of Kristen Sipling
Study Abroad: The Opportunity of a Lifetime
One of the many castle courtyards in Windsor Castle, England.
enhance leadership, initiative and communication skills. Students who study abroad will also have the opportunity to take classes wherever they choose to go, and these classes include new aspects of learning that they may not get from schools in the US. “I took one class that had to do with language, and there were people in the class that were from Japan, Italy and different parts of England and Scotland, so it was kind of cool to hear about their perspective on different languages,” Sipling said, when asked about the classes she took in England. Students need to get an
early start to study abroad. You will want to start planning about six months ahead, so first decide whether you want to do a fall, spring or summer program. Applying is not necessarily difficult, but it does take careful planning. “If you want to study abroad, plan it early and save money so you can do more while you are there,” Sipling said. Studying in another country is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “Studying abroad was probably the best decision of my life… I wish I could’ve stayed longer,” Sipling said.
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summer
March/April 2017
Vol. 56 Issue 2
How To Stay Fit and Motivated For Summer
cast, of a Baby Groot being there at all times, and him being one of the members in the scene,” Director James Gunn said about the beloved character’s screen time. Next up is prequel/sequel combo Alien: Covenant. Out May 19, the newest installment in the Alien franchise is both a prequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic Alien and a sequel to 2013’s Alien prequel Prometheus. This new story finds the crew of a colony ship escaping from a seemingly safe paradise after they are attacked by a creature beyond their imagination. The last sequel movie premieres near the very end of the month. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is the newest film in the Pirates of the Caribbean series and the fifth overall. Out May 26, the film sees Captain Jack Sparrow on a quest to find the legendary Trident of Poseidon. June keeps the heavyhitter trend going with two more high energy movies. The first action movie is the hotly anticipated Wonder Woman, out June second. Gal Gadot reprises her Batman vs Superman role as the greatest female superhero in her own standalone movie.
The second action movie is part of another big film franchise. Transformers: The Last Knight, out June 23, is the fourth Transformers film. “It’s kind of like a new Transformers. We had three, the first trilogy, and this is going to be the next one. It’s the first of a new trilogy. I’m not necessarily sure that I’m doing [the others], but that’s what it’s meant for,” Michael Bay said about the movie. The trend of heavy-hitting movies continues into July as well, with a promising new reboot. Spider-Man: Homecoming is the third Spider-Man reboot, with Tom Holland reprising his role as the web slinging hero from last summer’s Captain America: Civil War. Many fans are uncertain about this third revival of Spiderman and maybe even Holland’s lead performance as the web slinger but one of his costars set the record straight. “I think he’s going to be the best Spider-Man yet,” Civil War actor Anthony Mackie said when asked which actor of the three played the character best. As the summer winds down so do the action packed movies, and August is reflective of that. But just because the action is dialing down,
doesn’t mean your heart won’t still be racing. Two horror movies will keep you on edge all month long. First up on August 11 is Annabelle 2, the sequel to the unsettling story of the possessed doll that first appeared in James Wan’s The Conjuring. This second story involves a doll maker and his wife who welcome a nun and several orphans into their home but they all become
Alvernia students and staff enjoy a rigorous spinning class.
By Katerina Lawlor Contributing Editor Summer is getting closer and students at Alvernia are excited and motivated to get in shape. Alvernia has lots of resources that students can use to achieve their fitness goals. Many students on campus are involved with sports, to help keep them motivated. For example, Andrea Stevko
classes offered are free and are available to students and alumni. To contact about the wellness center classes, contact Ryan Sheaffer at ryan. sheaffer@alvernia.edu.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Morrison
while meeting new friends as well,” Morrison said. “I like going to the Alvernia gym because it’s really close to my apartment and doesn’t have to drive to it. Fitness is extremely important to me, not just about being in shape or being healthy but it gives me something to look forward to every day,” Morrison said. “I enjoy going there in the morning to start my day off with cardio and I light ab workout to wake me up for the day. I do have a set schedule I try to keep up with during the week, which is wake up around 7:30 and go to the gym for about an hour or so. It’s normally not crowded in the morning so I don’t have to worry about waiting for a machine,” Morrison said. “I also think it gives a person a set of personal values that they hold themselves to such as hard work and discipline,” Morrison said. The fitness center and
Photo courtesy of Alvernia University
participates as a senior on the Alvernia University track and field team. Running with her friends helps keep her motivated while relieving stress. “I just enjoy the sport of track and love the competition, the ability to push myself to the limit to see how well I do and to get better. I also know that the team counts on me to do my best, so the people on the team
help me too,” Stevko said. Running is also a coping mechanism for Andrea. “When I go on a run it helps relieve my stress and helps me better understand problems I have. I can focus better and think more rationally about stressful situations. I also feel happy and healthier after I go for a run,” Stevko said. Many students that are not in a sport can still stay motivated through the Alvernia Fitness Center, where they offer plenty of classes to help obtain a healthy body and mind. Some of the classes offered are, yoga, Zumba, spinning, Barre and Pilates and “Butts and Gutts.” These classes are held Monday through Friday and are free of charge. Jennifer Morrison a senior at Alvernia University, takes full advantage of the fitness Center and the classes offered at Alvernia. “Yoga is so relaxing, it helped me to relieve stress
Jennifer Morrison takes a post workout picture in the Alvernia Commons Fitness Center
Summer 2017 Blockbuster Movie Guide Last year had a multitude of excellent movies covering a variety of different genres for everyone. From Disney’s newest princess Moana to Star Wars prequel Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the hits just kept coming. 2017 has already given us two incredible movies with The Lego Batman Movie and the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast and the summer months promise a multitude of amazing movies as well. May leads things off with the three sequel movies, arriving just as college students wrap up their spring semester. First up is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the follow-up to 2014’s summer smash Guardians of the Galaxy, about a team of five unlikely heroes joining forces to stop an evil overlord from taking over the universe. Out May 5, this new adventure finds the team on a quest to find Peter Quill’s mysterious father. Viewers can expect lots more of Groot, everyone’s favorite talking tree. “Now everyone knows Groot so well that we have much larger awareness, me and the
the target of his possessed creation. The other unsettling film is Cadaver, out August 25. The movie stars Pretty Little Liars’ Shay Mitchell and Castle’s Stana Katic in a story about an ex-cop who takes the graveyard shift at a local morgue and gets more than she bargained for. For a complete list of all the summer releases and details about them visit movieinsider.com.
Photo courtesy of comingsoon.net
By Andrew Dotter Contributing Writer
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 Movie Poster
profiles
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March/April 2017
Vol. 56 Issue 2
By Ryan Weber Contributing Editor One way or another, college students have heard of the Disability Services office. Whether it’s the required section of each professor’s syllabus that mentions ADA accommodations or you’re someone who deals with a disability of your own, this office is a major contributor to students and their ability to learn on campus. Currently Darla Timberlake is the head of Disability Services and is the first person to hold that position fulltime in the history of Alvernia University. Since Timberlake has become a part of the Alvernia faculty more students than ever have been involved in the Disability Services. “I now serve over two hundred students, which is the largest amount of students that have protection under ADA and 504 ever in the history of Alvernia,” Timberlake
said. Many students are in a transition stage when entering college and if someone has a disability it is even more so. Many students with disabilities in high school will have something called an IEP or Individualized Educational Plan. According to Washington.edu, an IEP is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services. People who have IEPs in high school don’t have to advocate for themselves, there are teachers that take care of that for them in that environment. The problem is when students transition from high school to college students don’t know how to advocate for themselves. In college the student is the one that does everything.
Some students don’t want to advocate for themselves and that can become a problem. It’s not just students advocating for themselves that changes as a student tries to transition from secondary education to postsecondary education, but it is also likely that certain accommodations met in high school will change in college. “Accommodations are not allowed to change the structure of the class work for example, in school age you can have a test modified such as having it shortened, however, in college we can’t do that. Modifications to the curriculum or any alteration that changes the fidelity of the course work is not allowed. We can accommodate, we cannot modify,” Timberlake said. There are a number of professors on campus who Timberlake praises for being proactive in her cause. “Associate Professor of the Education department
also evolved over time. Music and language majors became minors. The addition of the Criminal Justice program was one of the things that contributed to the shift in curriculum. “At first the Criminal Justice degree seemed out of place here until it was realized that Alvernia’s Franciscan values were compatible with the law,” Schwanger said. The addition of new majors also caused a shift in the faculty. Many of the sisters that taught here represented the original majors so as new content was added to the curriculum, new professors were needed to teach it. This paired with a declining number of sisters due to retirement or replacement lead to an increase of lay faculty at Alvernia. Schwanger has always had a leading role in the music program on campus. She sings in the choir at Mass, and plays bassoon in the band. For those unsure what a bassoon is, it is a double reed wood wind instrument that produces low notes and is commonly seen in bands and orchestras. She also is the chief bassoonist with the Reading Pops Orchestra and the Ringgold Band.
“I just really love playing so I love every opportunity I get to play,” Schwanger said. Schwanger also has a variety of service roles. She serves as Secretary of Faculty Counsel this year, teaches First Year Seminar and advises undecided or undeclared students through the Academic Success Center (formerly the Educational Planning Center). “I like being an advisor because I enjoy assisting students and helping with their individual challenges,” she said. Schwanger is the advisor for over 30 students this
Photo courtesy of Ryan Weber
Providing Disability Services for Success
Darla Timberlake in her office at the Academic Success Center.
Dr. Mary Schreiner has been amazing, she has been with me when I’ve presented to faculty to assist me with the terminology I’m using,” Timberlake said. “There are also professor advocates, Polly Mathys who on campus if they don’t understand a student’s disability they come ask me what this means, and how to do it,” Timberlake said. Professor Mathys did back-
ground research to make sure she was doing things properly and she wasn’t embarrassing someone in the classroom. This demonstrates how professor Mathys has gone above and beyond for her students on campus. There has been so much accomplished within that two year time span, but Alvernia continues to work diligently on all areas of accessibility.
semester. “Attention and care to the individual student is important, but you also don’t want to force a student into a major.” Schwanger’s long service at Alvernia is apparent in her advising, especially with her undecided students. “The longer I’m here, the more people I know, and the more I can help point a student in the right direction and tell them who to contact for more information,” Schwanger said. Naturally, where there is change, there are also things that stay the same. Two of the most noticeable constants
would be Alvernia’s roots in the Franciscan tradition and its relatively small size, which allows for a great sense of community among students and faculty. “I think the fact that Alvernia is a faith-based institution is the best thing about the school. It plays a significant role in many students’ selection of Alvernia.”
By Andrew Dotter Contributing Writer Carol Schwanger has seen a great deal change in 40 years. Schwanger, an associate professor of music, started her career at Alvernia in 1976. “New visitors tell me all the time that you get a different feeling here at Alvernia than other campuses. They say it is a very caring and welcoming feeling,” Schwanger said. Schwanger was the first lay faculty member at Alvernia. Back then, the campus looked vastly different than it does today. Alvernia only had Bernardine Hall, Veronica Hall as a dorm, a garage for facilities, a music building, the greenhouse where art classes are now held, and Francis Hall. Francis Hall served many purposes even then. The building contained classroom and office spaces like it does today, but also the cafeteria, the gym, and residences for the nuns that taught on campus. The clothing during that time was also more formal than it is today. “Nuns wore habits and you never saw students wearing pajamas to class,” Schwanger said. The curriculum at Alvernia
Photo courtesy of Carey Manzolillo
The More Things Change, the More Alvernia Stays the Same
Professor Schwanger with President Flynn.
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