September/October 2019
THIS ISSUE
Alvernia’s Football Team
PLEX News
Alvernia’s DPT Program: On The Grow Sidney Goodman Managing Editor The construction of the PLEX has provided a variety of resources for the Alvernia community that range from improved recreational space to an enhanced academic environment. Among the programs that are making good use of increased space and equipment is the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The DPT program, which graduated its first class in 2018, is a rigorous postgraduate doctoral program three years in length. The mission of the program is to prepare the next generation of autonomous physical therapists by challenging students to think critically, act professionally, and serve
altruistically. There are two paths for pursuing admission into the DPT program. The first and more traditional route is referred to as the “4 + 3 track” Most of the students in the program now have taken this path. Upon completion of their bachelor’s degree in a related major, students may apply for entrance into the program. Although a specific major is not required, students must demonstrate academic success in specific prerequisite courses. Regardless of the path, a strong science foundation is important to ensure success within the program. The second path is referred to as the “3 + 3 track” Within this path, a
student who has achieved the required high school GPA and SAT scores enters Alvernia in the path that may lead toward entrance into the DPT program. Upon entrance to the university, the student will pursue one of four majors: Healthcare Science,
Biology, Biochemistry, or Psychology. In their junior year, a student may apply to enter the DPT program, therefore allowing them to enter the program in their senior year. To enter the program in their senior year, prospective
Photo Courtesy of tbe DPT Program
what’s in
Volume 58 Issue 4
L-R: Sarah Froehlich and Alexandra Worek work on higher level balance and gait with a client with Parkinson’s.
Photo Courtesy of the DPT Program
Life on Campus
Gun Theft in Oley
L-R: Ashley Duvall and Gavin High (DPT II) pratice their PNF skills for scapular stabilization.
student must have a 3.5 overall and science GPA, as well as a 3.0 in their prerequisite courses. As DPT students progress in their studies, their program provides many opportunities for real-world learning and clinical practice. The DPT program’s space in the PLEX includes two teaching labs, classrooms, faculty offices, and access to the virtual dissection lab and the interprofessional movement analysis lab. “The primary feature of the program is preparing students for clinical practice by connecting the classroom to the clinic,” Dr. Wise said. Clinical practice courses, where students engage in patient care, occur early and frequently throughout the program and the program culminates in two back-toback 12-week internships. DPT students are wellprepared for their career , as they spend 36 weeks in fulltime clinical practice learning alongside physical therapists in providing patient care. By the conclusion of the program, students will have attained the entrylevel knowledge and the skills needed to enter the profession. In the last two graduating classes, all students who
actively sought employment after graduation found a job within six months. The National Physical Therapy Exam, or NPTE, passage rate for the Class of 2019 was 96.6% and employment rate is at 100% for those who sought employment within 6 months following graduation. These numbers speak to the success of the program. The program received initial accreditation in May of 2018, meaning that all students are graduates of an accredited program and may take the national boards. The program submitted a compliance report in September to address four criteria related to its probationary status and will hear the results in November. The program faculty and students are pleased with the new space and all of the educational opportunities that it provides. Through community engagement, interprofessional learning, and innovative research, the program continues to pursue its mission of preparing the next generation of autonomous physical therapists by challenging students to think critically, act professionally, and serve altruistically.
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FITZGERALD FOLIO
September/October 2019
Vol. 58 Issue 4
Managing Editor Sidney Goodman Layout Sidney Goodman Section Editors Ivan Fegely Jared Montalto Dion Thorpe Contributing Writers Will DeMarco Luca Grammatica Ariel Johnson Raven Metas Justin Thomas 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.
© 2019 The Alvernian
Probably every student who has met me since I’ve come to campus has heard me say “15 to Finish”. Some are probably tired of me saying it so often, but I share it for good reason. First of all, in my experience, many students are confused about the meaning of full-time. Federal financial aid regulations define full-time enrollment as 12 credit hours per semester. This status opens access to housing and financial aid options not available to parttime students. Therefore, you might logically conclude that 12 credits per semester is enough for timely completion of a four-year degree. But you would be wrong. To get the required number of credits to graduate the true number is 15 credits per semester with one semester at 18. Most recent data show that at Alvernia almost 30% of students do not complete 30 credits in their first year. Second, there is a growing body of research surrounding the notion of “momentum.” Simply put, students who are engaged in their majors early and earn those 15 credits per semester tend to remain motivated to get to graduation. After controlling for high school GPA, students at every level of earn better grades and are more likely to graduate if they complete 30 credits per year. Success and engagement propel you forward. On-time degree completion is important because the longer that you stay in college past the expected completion date, the less likely you are to complete your degree. The more time that passes the more opportunities there are for life events to get in the way. Those on a slower path have a greater tendency to stop out or grow discouraged
and lose sight of the finish line. Students who are on pace to graduate on time are also more likely to complete their degrees, and therefore to have more career opportunities, more competitive salaries, and better benefits and security. Some students have said that they can’t take 15 credits because they must work or want to focus on just a few courses at a time. I counter that if anything that is a short-lived gain and it may not even have any benefit. Taking extra semesters to graduate increases the overall cost to degree, largely because you will pay addition tuition and fees every semester you attend, and that adds up. Residential students also pay additional costs for room and board each extra semester. And when you take more time to graduate you are delaying the earnings that will start to accumulate as soon as you begin receiving a salary. Graduating on time means that you begin working and accumulating wealth earlier. Earning a degree pays, and earning it sooner means making more money over a lifetime. Advisors may be reluctant to advise students to take 15 credits a semester and students might be too because they are concerned that their grade point average will suffer. Some parents might also suggest taking a lighter load. Although counterintuitive, research shows that students taking 15 credits per semester typically have higher grade point averages than comparably-prepared students taking 12 credits per semester. At Alvernia students earning 15+ credits have an average GPA of 3.19 while those taking 12-14 earn an
Photo Courtesy of Alvernia University Marketing Department
t h e alver nian
Dr. Glynis Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President and Provost
average GPA of 2.63. Many factors go into this of course but it is likely the increase in credit intensity leaves students with less time for major distractions from college work. Now I understand this isn’t possible for everyone. We have many part-time students at Alvernia and I applaud your resilience. But for our full-time students, 30 credits per year should be your goal. So how do you get there? Make school your priority. If it’s possible, cut back on work hours so you can earn 15 credits per semester. The payoff in your salary as a college graduate will be worth it. Follow your eight semester plans which chart the specific courses you need to take and when you need to take them
MISSION MOMENT
to earn a degree on time. Fill out a FAFSA. You might be eligible for grants and scholarship aid. With financial assistance, you can concentrate on your studies, work fewer hours off campus and finish college on time. You also need to be proactive and ask for help. Seek assistance before you are struggling and need to withdraw or repeat a course. At Alvernia you are surrounded by people and resources who all want to see you complete your degree. Ask for help from Professors, advisors, the Student Success Center and your classmates or me. I’m always happy to hear from you. Email me at Provost@alvernia.edu or stop in a Pretzels with the Provost event.
“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: And, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” — C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”
COMMUNITY
September/October 2019
3 Vol. 58 Issue 4
Will Gun Theft Lead to More Mass Shootings? On top of usual college student worries like “How many late nights will I have to put in to get that paper done?” and “Am I passing my class?”, the current generation faces a new anxiety: “Am I safe in school?” The Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund created a database that tracks gunfire on school grounds.
Everytown defines gunfire as, “Any time a gun discharges a live round inside (or into) a school building, or on (or onto) a school campus or grounds, where “school” refers to elementary, middle, and high schools — K-12 — as well as colleges and universities.” Based on this definition, they have reported 64 incidents of gunfire on school grounds so far in 2019. While mass shootings are statistically rare, their
Smashed Display Case at Cro-Arms.
Photo Courtesy of Steve Whitesell
Will DeMarco Contributing Writer
randomness makes each one feel more severe. Tragedies like the ones at Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School can happen anywhere for a variety of reasons. Criminal Justice Professor Barry Harvey discussed how Alvernia University would handle a mass shooting incident. While we have programs like the E2 Campus Alert System to notify students of possible danger as well as Public Safety, our officers are not armed. “What we have to rely on here is a response rather than a prevention,” Harvey said. Guns are easy to come by in the United States. Some enter circulation by crime. The Reading Eagle reported that on Saturday August 31, just before 1:30 a.m., four teenage males broke into Cro-Arms Guns and Ammo in Oley Township, Berks County. The thieves stole 45 guns, including
rifles and handguns, and vandalized the store during their theft. The damage is estimated to be at least $18,000. The Central Berks Regional Police, along with agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, are working together to investigate the robberies. During a personal interview with Steve Whitesell, the manager of Cro-Arms, he said that the shop had only been open for about a year and this is the first robbery they have experienced. When asked why he thought the teens stole the guns, he replied that according to the police, “They needed the money, so they sold them down in Pottstown.” Two suspects are already in custody, while the other two are still at large. One suspect, Johnathan A. Rodriguez, confessed to the police that he drove the group of teens using a relative’s car.
He took several of the stolen weapons and was paid $100 for driving the car. The other driver, 18-year-old Nathan Diaz, was brought into custody Sunday afternoon by ATF agents who went to his house in Muhlenberg Township. Both are currently out on bail. In a report that aired on September 4, 2019, on ABC Action News, Steve Whitesell, the manager of Cro-Arms was shocked that the robbery was perpetrated by kids. “They should be out playing baseball or basketball instead of robbing gun stores,” Whitesell said. “It’s absolutely mind-boggling.” Central Berks Detective Sergeant Deron Manndel said that ten guns were recovered, but the team is still trying to find the others. “What the teens were planning to do with all of the guns remains a focus of the ongoing investigation by police and the ATF,” Manndel said to the Reading Eagle.
What Really Affects High Stakes Exams? The SATs are high stake exams that college and universities use during their admission process. Students typically take them in their junior or senior years of high school. These tests are put in place to measure students readiness for college life and have often been under fire for their lack of accuracy and biased ways. There are many different factors that influence the outcome of the SATs. They can be the hardest test you’ll
ever take or a walk in the park, depending on who you are, your major, and what status you hold. Little things such as stress, time of day, and the amount of sleep a student got the night before can also affect test scores. It is common for those on the lower-income spectrum to struggle more with these exams. Lower scores can come from not being able to afford either materials to study or the lack of funds for tutoring. Tutoring for these exams also go beyond practicing problems; they also allow students to learn
Accepted Alvernia Students’ SAT Score Statistics. Information Provided by Niche
Graph Courtesy of Ariel Johnson
Ariel Johnson Contributing Writer
how to use their test time efficiently and make them more comfortable in a testing situation. Those who do have access to these privileges have shown to have received a much lower score. Students from households with incomes reaching 200,000 have an average score of 1,714 while a low-income score can reach up to 1,326. Even majors play a role in SAT scores, and you can often tell which ones will receive higher scores. For instance, Nursing majors will usually hold a higher score due to needing them to be as high as possible to get into beneficial programs for their majors. Because of this, Nursing majors will often see the SAT in a different light compared to a student with another major who scored lower. “The SATs were easy for me,” Nursing major Maddie Price said. “I do think they should be a requirement for those who plan to go to college. But if you have different plans for your life, you shouldn’t worry about them.” Jackie Valencia, a Criminal Justice major, has a different opinion on the value of the test. “I do wish it wasn’t a requirement for college. I did
not like how early you had to take it; it made concentrating much harder. Even studying the handbook did not help.” For these high-stake tests, their effectiveness has been questioned for as long they have been around because of their one-sidedness. They are geared towards those who do well under pressure
and are comfortable with standardized test. This puts students who are poor testers at a serious disadvantage when it comes to preparing for the SATs. Students spend years in high school to prepare for college entrance exams, but are they worth it in the end?
MASSAGE THERAPY PA licensed massage therapist offering a 10% discount to Alvernia employees and students with an Alvernia ID. Two office locations. Please call Karen at 610.777.4657 for an appointment!
4
FOOTBALL
September/October 2019
Vol. 58 Issue 4
Alvernia Football Looks to Improve After Inaugural Season
The Golden Wolves Football Team preparing for the 2019 season opener against the Gallaudet Bison.
Photo Courtesy of @vernathletics
On August 14, the 2019 Golden Wolves moved into the Alvernia dorms to start a long, challenging camp. The players days consisted of waking up around 7 a.m and not going to sleep until 11 p.m. The days during camp included multiple meetings, weight lifting in the new Plex, and practice on the scorching turf. Camp truly tested an individual’s love for the game of football. The Wolves sought to improve from their 1-9 record last season. The Golden Wolves’ sole win in 2018-19 was from season opener versus Gallaudet University. Sophomore running back Dalen Berry was asked about the lone win last season. “It’s hard to win a lot of games with a starter program,” Berry said. “I understand why, but it still frustrates me that we won only one game. This season should be a whole new turn around season.” The Golden Wolves opened their season again versus the Gallaudet Bison, but this time in Washington, D.C. The team traveled down to country’s capital on Thursday
a day before the game. The team practiced at a nearby high school on Thursday before arriving at the hotel. On Friday the team was set to have meetings, tour the African American History Museum, and have team dinner before kickoff at Gallaudet University. The Golden Wolves came out strong at scored a touchdown within the first minute of the game which was a 35 yard run courtesy of sophomore Malcolm Carey. The Bison did not think twice about the Golden Wolves’ score and retaliated by scoring their own touchdown in the first quarter. The teams went back and forth all game trying to come out on top until the very last minute. The Golden Wolves found themselves down 14-12 with only a minute and 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The team stayed composed and drove down the field into Bison territory. On the 26 yard line, sophomore quarterback, Kevin Washington threw a corner route to sophomore slot receiver, Antwann Cade, who was wide open in the endzone. The pass was completed for a touchdown and a 2-point conversion was converted to put the Golden
The Golden Wolves are looking forward to this year’s season.
Photo Courtesy of @vernathletics
Jared Montalto Contributing Editor
Wolves on top 20-14. The Bison ended up getting sacked as time ran off the clock. Alvernia started the 2019 season with a nailbiting thrilling win, similar to the 2018 season opener versus Gallaudet. Head football Coach Ralph Clark stressed that the team needed to maintain its “3P” mentality going into camp. 3P stands for Passion, Pursuit, and Process, which are the components of a successful season. 3P is seen as a pyramid of success with passion on the bottom, then pursuit in the middle tier and the next tier is process. The pinnacle of the pyramid is “team,” and ideally, victory. During the spring semester, the Golden Wolves named the team’s captains for the upcoming 2019 season. Two of the three captains selected were sophomore linebacker, Tajon Whiten, and senior defensive linemen, Mycah Mollohan. Whiten and Mollohan’s leadership will be important this season to lead the young team to victory. Since the team is only a second-year program, the players are mostly sophomores and first years. All returners will also play an important role in mentoring first-year players into college football.
This team had faced a lot of adversity last season, and hope to make this season one for the books. “As a team, we look to improve both on and off the field,” Tyzhir Morris, sophomore safety, said, “We strive to improve not only as football players but as young men and role models to our surrounding communities.” “In comparison to last season we’ve done exceptionally well at improving our camaraderie and building our team chemistry.” The inaugural season for the Golden Wolves was filled with obstacles. Last year on August 10, 2018, 118 players reported for Alvernia’s first football camp. But to start the four-month season, the players did not have clean water on campus for about 3 or 4 days. Another obstacle occurred when they could not always practice on the turf because of other sports here at Alvernia. This meant players had to walk around 10 minutes in the heat with all of their equipment to the Kenhorst Park to practice on a grass field. Since the team was put together with the majority of first year students, they had little experience about how a college football team is run.
Players had to take on big roles right away once they stepped foot on campus. Most teams were run by seniors and juniors and players who had experienced what college football is. The 2018 Golden Wolves fought and gave it their all every game. Although the season was not an easy one, players and coaches both learned a lot about themselves, their teammates/ players, and about college football as a whole. The 2019 Alvernia Golden Wolves have a new outlook this season on how to be a team. The team has a new sense of unity and have never felt more together. With positive mindsets, hardworking players and intelligent coaches, this team can accomplish anything they want to. The Alvernia community needs to be ready to cheer on their second-year program team. This team is headed in a positive direction. Big things are in store for their future.
ON CAMPUS
September/October 2019
5 Vol. 58 Issue 4
Dion Thorpe Contributing Editor Student-athletes are often depicted on social media as being overwhelmed with sports, school, and life. Some people say “relatable,” while others laugh, but the memes come with a grain of truth. Student athletes do have a lot to take on during a semester. Former NFL player Earl Campbell once said in an interview, “I talk to studentathletes. I try to get them to remember that they’re not just athletes, but studentathletes. You need to get an education, keep your hands clean and try to represent the university.” While athletics may be a good gateway into a college or university, there are many other aspects of a student athlete’s life. While Alvernia University is a Division III school, the Golden Wolves take their athletic achievements very seriously. The football team
is still young, but the hard work of building the program continues. Players wake up daily at 4:30 a.m. similar to professional athletes to work in a morning training regimen before class. After practice ends at 8:15, players must shower, eat and make it to class on time. However, after a rigorous early morning practice, most players are exhausted. “Tuesdays and Thursdays are the hardest on me because I have classes from 9:30 a.m. up until 3:15 p.m. and then I finish my day with a mandatory lifting session from 3:30 p.m. until 4:15 p.m,” football player Teyon Thorpe said. The schedule of a student athlete isn’t only hard on the players, but it is also hard on their professors. All student athletes have a practice and game schedule that forces them to miss some classes. Before they select classes, student-
athletes make sure they don’t schedule any classes that may interfere with practice, but they also have to use time management. Football player Tyzhir Morris said, “While being a student athlete I am also a RA which gives me a lot of mandatory obligations I must fulfill. It’s all about time management, we all have the same 24 hours it just depends on how you use it.” Dr. Ryan Lange is the co-chair of the English and communication department. He takes responsibility for scheduling classes for his department, which involves coordinating with his colleagues. “We have to balance our offerings around the needs of our various students,” Dr. Lange said. Exhausted studentathletes can suffer in classes. “I’ve watched studentathletes pass out in front of me because they are too tired to function in a 10 a.m. class,” Dr. Lange said.
Photo Courtesy of Marisa Lombardo
Life of a Student-Athlete is Often Tiring
The 2019 Alvernia University Football Team Roster.
“They have to get up at 4:30 a.m., and then they need to go to class, and THEN they have afternoon practices. After that, they need to do the reading and complete assignments, then get enough sleep to be able to physically function the next day. Theoretically.” Football player Jon’ye Wise had to learn this the hard way.
“With this being my first year on the team I was introduced quickly to how fast things can come,” Wise said. “There are many places you are expected to be and you are expected to be there on time. I just have to work on not taking my time and moving with a sense of urgency.”
Alvernia Makes Strong Advancements in Social Media Christinamarie Stefanoni Contributing Writer
Photo Courtesy of @vernathletics
Alvernia University has been incorporating social media to advertise to and engage current and potential students like never before. The university maintains over 20 different social media accounts for a variety of groups and organizations affiliated with Alvernia. Kristopher Nolt, director
of communications, has had a big impact on the social media advances at Alvernia University. “As a university we are always exploring the most effective ways to communicate with our audiences. Not only are we looking to communicate with current students, but we also have to explore avenues to communicate with our other internal audiences.” Nolt said.
@vernathletics most recent Instagram post from @ alverniamsoccer during their Kicks for Cancer game
Nolt also acknowledges that Alvernia is only in the early stages of their experiments with social media. “Student engagement is something that we are striving for with our advances in social media. We have seen upticks in our engagement overall which certainly means that students are more in tune with our posts but there is certainly room for improvement.” Nolt, like many others, believes the social aspect of the University is a positive step in growing campus engagement. Alvernia men’s soccer has recently stepped up their social media game by hiring student managers to run a team Instagram and Twitter account. Not only do the managers post almost play by play updates, they also post pregame videos and even edited pictures and videos of the players to promote them on the game day. Their Instagram is @ GoldenWolvesms and their Twitter is @AlverniaMensSoc. The men’s volleyball team (@alverniamvb on Instagram) also does a great job with posting fun videos
of the team and getting the rest of the school involved. The account is filed with cool edits and memes of the team. Not only do these accounts help promote the team it helps a lot with school spirit and student engagement. When Nolt was asked about the sports aspect of social media he made sure to give credit to staff members taking point on social media success. “Jon King, Marisa Lombardo and the student workers in the athletics communication office have been doing a wonderful job incorporating new social media content into the athletic accounts. They are setting a high standard for other social media managers across campus by posting wonderful photos, graphics and videos.” Alvernia has helped make the campus a whole more social by using tools on social media. The university also has classes about social media, such as Social Media Marketing. Social Media Marketing is a hands-on service-learning class where you run learn how to run social media accounts for a variety of clients.
Alvernia is just in the beginning stages of these social media advances and there is so much more to look forward to! To stay updated and get involved with Golden Wolves social media, follow the accounts listed below! Alvernia Instagrams:
@Alverniareslife @alvernia_wolfpack @alverniabasketball @alverniauniversity @alverniamvb @Alvernia @vernwlax @alverniafieldhockey @alverniamsoccer
Don’t forget to follow Alvernia’s new president John Loyack on Twitter: @AlverniaPres
Scan this QR code and keep up with Alvernia events on Instagram!
6 September/October 2019
THE PLEX
Vol. 58 Issue 4
Alvernia’s Newest Attraction Luca Grammatica Contributing Writer
student, the class of 2022 will benefit from the construction of the Tom and Helen Flynn PLEX. Even though the complex is open for all students and faculty of the university, many future Alvernia athletes will be drawn to
Photo Courtesy of Sidney Goodman
On August 16, 2016, then-Alvernia University President Tom Flynn stood on the steps of Francis Hall and announced the construction of a new recreational and
educational complex to the Alvernia community. As images of the desired look to the complex were revealed, confetti shot up and the crowd began to cheer. While most of the students in attendance would never get to experience The PLEX as a
The Tom and Helen Flynn Complex, dedicated to Alvernia’s former president and his wife, is now open for studen use
the university by the new building. “I can only speak for baseball, but the PLEX gives us a state of the art facility that few programs can offer,” Yogi Lutz, head baseball coach, said. “It’s a ‘gamechanger’ for us as our players have a year-round facility to hone their skills and a locker room to call home.” With new weight rooms and spacious training facilities, the PLEX will bring school athletics to a whole new level. Four new recreational basketball courts surrounded by an indoor track will also ease the burden of the PEC and the turf field for practices. The PLEX also features more classrooms, with a special focus on the DPT program. “The PLEX provides a lot of new, innovative technology that can help students and athletes perform at their full potential all at one location,” Nick Nutile, sophomore, said.
Alvernia University’s newest attraction will not only help current students enrolled at the school but also provide a more appealing look to the campus for potential future Golden Wolves. Through lots of hard work and many years of thoughtful planning, former President Tom Flynn’s farewell gift will be one that lives on forever.
Have something to say about our campus? Write for the Alvernian and make your voice heard!
Students Weigh In On The PLEX Alvernia greeted the opening of the Tom and Helen Flynn PLEX this fall. Construction began in May 2018 and was finished this August. The PLEX adds many new commodities for Alvernia’s student athletes. It contains 4 full court basketball courts, an indoor track, as well as deployable netting to allow baseball and softball practices indoors. The PLEX also has a weight room and a variety of physical therapy labs. One of the most popular features of the PLEX is the new food option right when you walk in. The new eatery is called Freshens, and their new smoothies have become a student favorite. The smoothie station contains any flavor you want and also has a healthy select option of food to choose from. Makeel Allen was excited to be able to use the PLEX, and Allen’s favorite part about the structure was the smoothie station. Allen found the smoothies to be delicious, and appreciated having more variety to choose from during his day at school. But some students have
other feedback about the structure. Elijah Bynum hopes for expanded hours later in the year. “I wish that the Plex stayed open longer,” Bynum said. “It closes at like 9 or 10 and the smoothie place closes at 8.” Steven Pierce thought that the floors of the Plex might be too slick in places.
“The basketball floor is very slippery,” Pierce said. “It’s hard to run up and down because you can seriously slip and hurt your ankle.” This could be due to the fact that the building has not been fully completed yet, and hopefully that is one thing that will be cleared up in the final sweep.
Even though it may have some bugs to work out, the Plex brings so much excitement to the Alvernia students because it adds another venue for them to enjoy. The smoothies at Freshens have especially become very popular with students. The PLEX also provides new classrooms
and facilities for students to use that will benefit both academic and sports programs. It especially gets lots of love from the athletes because they have been waiting for a facility like this to come to the school.
The PLEX is home to a variety of things for students to do, both academically and recreationally.
Photo Courtesy of Sidney Goodman
Justin Thomas Contributing Writer
LIFESTYLE
September/October 2019
7 Vol. 58 Issue 4
A Home Away From Home
A nice, bright day on a quiet campus.
time, I could make my own decisions.” Tiana Mondesir, a sophomore, thinks the transition to living at Alvernia was made more accessible by our community. “Living on campus is special because of the people,” Mondesir said. “Everyone is friendly. This produces a comforting environment, which has led me to find a wide variety of wonderful people. I can call A stylish dorm room in Judge Hall shared by two friends, Raven my second family and home.” Metas and Giavana Hartzell. Making friends is not always easy, sometimes it easy to find something to do. to the Health and Wellness can happen quick, and other Weekends on campus include Center to talk to someone or times, it can be incredibly some sports event, club even just going to your RA tough to do. Find people who meetings or even some fun could help. When someone have common interests, join free trip the school is offering. starts to feel alone, it is good clubs, or even bonding with But also, if friends just to reach out to people around your roommate can help form wanted to stay in the dorms, to talk so that one can get a friendship. People always they can find something to started to feel better and say the friends you make in do like play games or watch less alone. Surrounded by a college will be the friends movies to bond with each good group of friends may that last a lifetime; it just other. Loneliness has hit make it easier to handle less takes time to find them. everyone at some point in alone and be able to get more While Alvernia seems to time while living away from involved in things around empty out on the weekends, campus, but it just depends campus. once you have a solid group on how well you handle it. that stays all the time, it is On-campus, one could go Photo Courtesy of Raven Metas
Have you ever been scared to leave home and be out in the world alone? Transitioning to college may have been nerve-wracking for some students. Fortunately, most students feel more at ease as they get more adjusted to life away from home. Akilah Hoxter, a firstyear student, had concerns about moving to Alvernia. “I was nervous about living on campus and being from
home because it was my first time being away and on my own for this long,” Hoxter said. “[While] I have to make my own decisions and be an adult, I love it here.” Another first-year student, Avolonya Jones also had to overcome some anxiety, “I was very nervous, I have never really lived away from home, but it didn’t really hit me until I was all packed, and my mom had to leave.” Jones said, “Even though it was nerve-wracking, I quickly was able to adapt once I made friends, and for the first
Photo Courtesy of Raven Metas
Raven Metas Contributing Writer
The More Meal Swipes The Merrier What if you could use your Alvernia meal swipes off campus or at Courtside for dinner instead of being stuck with the main café food? Other universities have arrangements with local vendors to allow students to “swipe” off campus, but Alvernia has not pursued this option as of yet. Nicholas DiPietro is running for Student Government Association Sophomore Senator on a platform of trying to expand the Alvernia meal swipe program. There are several possibilities for places that could benefit from an expanded meal swipe program. Around Alvernia, there are multiple restaurants ranging from fast food to small local pizza joints. Not only can this benefit the student body as a whole and faculty, this could benefit partnering businesses and restaurants surrounding Alvernia. Some local area restaurants currently have deals for Alvernia students if they show a student ID at the point of purchase. The Mama’s Pizza location in
Kenhorst offers a deal specific to Alvernia students. Queen City Family restaurant also offers a percent discount to Alvernia students if you dine in. Could a meal swipe arrangement build on those existing relationships? Although there are no opportunities for meal swipes off-campus, Alvernia has expanded its on-campus locations. The new on-campus food option is Freshens. Freshens serves healthier food options and smoothies at the PLEX, though is more costly than the Kestrel Café or Courtside. Freshens is a healthier food option on campus, but it is harder to get to since it is at the PLEX, which is further from campus than the other options. What if students could use dinner swipes at Courtside Café? Courtside Café is an on campus made to order food service that is open late at night. Courtside already offers a lunch swipe daily, minus the weekends, and this has been received well by students. If Courtside were to have a dinner swipe option and have a cycling meal plan like the lunch swipes, that would benefit not only the average student, but a
collegiate athlete who has missed lunch due to practice or an athletic event. Adam Loehr is a student athlete on the track team who often finds himself hungry after meets, but unable to take advantage of normal meal service. “When we
return back on campus after a track meet, I am starving and need something to eat after a long day at a meet,” Loehr said. “Courtside meal swipes would be a perfect option for students and faculty to eat at any point throughout the night.”
Expanding the meal swipe program to include other on-campus locations and local restaurants as well would be a great way for students to make the most of their meal plans and enjoy their college experience to the fullest.
A look at Courside Cafe, a food service students can use throughout the night and day
Photo Courtesy of Ivan Fegely
Ivan Fegely Contributing Editor
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