HOMECOMING ISSUE
@WUYELLOWJACKET
OCTOBER 3, 2019 • VOL. 97 NO. 03 • EST. 1924
THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG
C E L E B R AT I N G 5 0 Y E A R S
Photos courtesy of Alumni Relations
Homecoming reunion brings alumni back to campus to reignite old friendships HOLLY HENDERSHOT Executive Editor
Fifty years have passed since the class of 1969 lined up to receive their degrees, but time has not made them forget the moments they each spent at their alma mater, Waynesburg University. This year’s Homecoming brings many alumni from all different years, and 65 of them have come back
for the 50th reunion of the class of ’69. The amount of returning ‘69 alumni is a much larger number than recent class anniversaries. David Floyd, manager of development and Alumni Relations, believes this is because of an especially strong connection the members of the class of ‘69 still have with each other. “We always have a good group for our 50th reunion class, but for whatever
reason, it seems like this class has stayed really connected,” Floyd said. “There are a lot of connections that have stood the test of time. They want to come back and get together and reminisce.” Working in Alumni Relations, Floyd said he gets to travel and meet with alumni from all over the country. This class, he said, is coming together from all over the country
- some from Texas, some from New Jersey, some from Maryland and even a few from California. Although this is common for Homecoming weekend, Floyd said it does not usually occur at this large of a diverse volume. “We’ve worked with a few different alumni who have been … reaching out to their classmates to encourage them to come back, and for us, that’s a
great thing,” Floyd said. “We are happy to work with them and provide some of the things they are looking for and help them to reach out to their classmates as well.” The combined class reunion will occur Friday, Oct. 4, from 7-9 p.m. at Lone Pine Country Club in Washington, Pennsylvania. All alumni are invited to the event, although its main purpose is to cel-
ebrate all of the reunion classes, which are in fiveyear increments from 5th year anniversary and back. On Saturday, Oct. 5, a brunch with President Douglas Lee and his wife is reserved for members of the class of ’69, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at their home next to the university. Some of the class of ‘69 REUNION >> A4
Waynesburg adds 2019 Homecoming court announced four new majors and three minors GRACE HUTCHISON Managing Editor
GRACE HUTCHISON Managing Editor
The University recently incorporated four new major areas of study to the academic curriculum: healthcare management, forensic biology, forensic investigation and data science. At the start of the 2019 academic school year, related academic departments have expanded to include the four new major programs, as well as three new minors: entrepreneurial leadership, sports management and healthcare management.
These new programs were made available effective Aug. 1 and are listed on the most current university course catalog. These programs were established by their departments to meet the needs of a growing career field and to better prepare students to enter the modern job market, said Marie Leichliter-Krause, assistant provost for academic affairs and institutional effectiveness. Each of the new majors added were in response to MAJORS >> A4
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Waynesburg Universi ty’s 2019 Homecoming Court was recently announced, with 10 total seniors eligible to be crowned king and queen at the upcoming homecoming football game, scheduled for Oct. 5. The court includes five females: Heidi Dziak, Naomi Swaney, Hannah Sembower, Rebekah Monkern and Alexis Taylor. The five senior males elected for court are Tre Thomas, Harrison Scott, Jordan Wherthey, Thomas Faye and Nic Burgess. The 10 students were elected for homecoming court following a vote held
by the entire student body. This year the members of the court were announced at WU Voice, a singing competition held every Friday Sept. 20-Oct. 4. Michelle Keith, graduate assistant for Student Services, assisted in the execution of the voting process for the homecoming court, as well as the announcement at WU Voice. The members of the court were unveiled at WU Voice to spread awareness for the event and draw in students who might have otherwise not attended, Keith said. “It really gets people excited,” she said. Over 44 members of the senior class ran for court, which is an unusually
high number, said Keith. This spike in the number of candidates was likely due to a combination of a large amount of interest from the class itself and a high number of males requesting to be nominated on court. “There were nearly as many males as females that ran,” Keith said. “That is pretty unusual.” Students were able to cast their ballots for court Sept. 17-18 at Benedum Dining Hall and the Beehive during lunch hours. These times and locations were strategically selected to catch a maximum amount of students, Keith said. Keith and other staff from the Student Servic-
es office had the laborious task of tallying the more than 400 votes cast by the student body. Dziak, senior accounting major, was one of the ladies announced to be on the court. Dziak said she is absolutely honored to be on the court. She didn’t campaign, but rather slowly built friendships and made many acquaintances during her time at the university. “I am a very extroverted person,” Dziak said. “I love talking to people.” The thought of gaining a significant fraction of the over 400 votes cast was meaningful to Dziak, who took it as a symbol of COURT >> A4
OP-ED
REGION
SPORTS
Editorial: For alumni, Homecoming is a time to reminisce and rekindle connections.
PennDOT recieved grant from federal government to research automated vehicles.
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Football and soccer teams set to highlight Homecoming weekend sports action. SEE B3
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OCTOBER 3, 2019 S PJ B E S T A L L - A R O U N D N O N - D A I LY N E W S P A P E R
WINNER: 2004 2016 FINALIST: 2003 2013 2014
OPINION
Miller's impact still looms after death DREW HREHA
Columnist
STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR DIGITAL NEWS DIRECTOR MANAGING EDITOR REGION EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS WEB EDITOR OP-ED EDITOR WEB EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
HOLLY HENDERSHOT ANDREW HREHA GRACE HUTCHISON EDWARD BOICE DYLAN CLELAND JOE SMELTZER RACHEL PELLEGRINO LACHLAN LOUDON ELAINA SPAHMER EMMA HERRLE ANGELICA GOOD SIERRA MEDINA
TECHNICAL/FACULTY ADVISORS: RICHARD KRAUSE SARAH BELL KRISTINE SCHIFFBAUER
EDITORIAL
Return to the hive Alumni return to where their journey started Homecoming is a time to see old friends and return to your alma mater once a year to check in and find out what has changed. This weekend brings the 2019 Homecoming at Waynesburg University, but what makes this annual event so special? Despite events going on throughout the week for current students to take part in, the official start to Homecoming weekend will be Friday, Oct. 4, as it’s Black and Orange Day around campus. There will then be a picnic dinner and pep rally from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. in Johnson Commons for students to enjoy food, live music from WCYJ-FM and this year’s Homecoming Court. For alumni, there will be three events that some might’ve signed up to attend. Golf at Greene County Country Club is starting at noon on Friday, President’s Reception will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and the final event that evening is the All-Alumni Celebration. Before kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 5, there are a few events for alumni and students to consider attending. The 23rd Annual Waynesburg University Homecoming 5K Run and Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. and is available for current students, alumni and community members. Dr. Larry Stratton will host a Stover Scholar Alumni Brunch at 10 a.m. in the Stover Conference Room which will be open for any alumni of the Stover Scholar Program. As this occurs, other alumni can begin checking in at Johnson Commons or John F. Wiley Stadium starting at 10:30 a.m. The 8th Annual JacketFest will highlight the late morning and early afternoon in Johnson Commons. Current students and alumni alike can come through to grab a light brunch, participate in activities and meet up with others from the Waynesburg community. One of the more popular attractions of Homecoming weekends is the football game on Saturday, Oct.5. This year, the Yellow Jacket football team will continue its quest for the first win of the season at 1:30 p.m. when they host Presidents’ Athletic Conference foe, Thiel. A Waynesburg favorite is the Family 5th Quarter Steak Cookout which concludes the activities for the weekend following the final whistle of the football game right outside John F. Wiley Stadium. No matter how you choose to spend your time returning to Waynesburg, there are plenty of activities and ways to reconnect with former classmates and professors. For some, walking through the building you spent the most time in, might be enough to satisfy your trip back to campus. For others, they might already have a connection back to the school, whether they were a Stover scholar or an athlete. Just make sure before you depart campus at the end of the weekend, you get that something that you’re searching for out of the experience, because after all, it’s likely you won’t return to Yellow Jacket territory until this time next year.
TO THE READER In order to provide better coverage in a more timely fashion, The Yellow Jacket focusses on an onlinefirst format. Online coverage for campus, region, Op/Ed and sports can be found on our website, theyellowjacket.org. Due to this change, the print publication has been condensed to eight full-color pages and will be printed on an bi-weekly basis.
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Four years ago Sept. 30, I was standing outside Stage AE in Pittsburgh, waiting to see my first concert. The occasion was a friend’s birthday, and the performer was Mac Miller. Our general friend group were all big fans of Miller, the Pittsburgh rapper who two days prior had released his latest album GO:OD AM. Miller was kicking off the tour promoting his album in his hometown, and we knew we had to go. The show was electric. Miller played songs from the new album and classic favorites to the eager hometown crowd. During his performance of the song “Donald Trump” Miller did not perform a verse. See, that song was a right of passage for the teens and young adults in the audience. Miller simply held the microphone pointed at the audience, as the jam packed venue recited his hit
song to him. His performance of “Best Day Ever” as the sun went down could not have been written better for a Hollywood film. The night in general was unforgettable, with GO:OD AM still standing as one of my all-time favorite albums. It is now 2019, and over a year has passed since Miller tragically overdosed. While his passing still hangs heavy on the hearts of his fans and the Pittsburgh community, it has had an equally lasting impact on the music industry. Miller had such an impact on music and the artists that he worked with, that not even time can fill the hole that his passing has left. His last album, Swimming, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, but is much more than just a rap album. Swimming is a live look at the evolution of Miller’s music career. When Miller began his career at the age of 15, he was a straight flow rapper. His early music, often misconceived as “Frat Rap”, is what
put him in the spotlight. From there, Miller began honing his craft, dabbling in R&B, producing and experimenting with many different types of sounds. Where Miller is as an artist and as a person in Swimming compared to his early days are almost complete opposites. Where early Mac is boastful, Swimming Mac is reflective and seemingly in a moment of bliss. The point here is that Miller was only 26 when he passed, yet experienced the career transformation that few artists achieve in a full lifetime. The hole left by Miller’s passing is not just felt in the present, but also in the future of music that he would have had a profound influence in changing. However, even after passing, Miller’s impact still looms. Not just in the music he released over 11 years, but in the constant wait for the music he didn’t release. In countless interviews with countless artists, Miller is credited for practically living in the studio.
His commitment to music is acknowledged by everyone in the industry that he was close to. Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that while Miller put out so much music, there could be multiple albums that he recorded and never released. While there are too many rumors to mention, the idea that there is unreleased Mac Miller music in existence is a fact. This summer alone, multiple songs leaked to the internet, including “Benji the Dog” which turned out to be an unfinished version of the 88-Keys song, “That’s Life” featuring Miller and Sia. Those songs were the soundtrack to my 2019 summer. It is a foregone conclusion that any Mac Miller music that is released in the future will immediately make its way to the top of my playlist. While it may not be 2009 or even 2015, one thing remains certain: Mac Miller’s music and the memories connected to it, will always live on, just as the music industry will always be missing a key piece of its future.
Taking a look at toxic gaming culture EDWARD BOICE Columnist
The International Olympic Committee is partnering with Intel to bring the Intel World Opener as a part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. While the event isn’t technically part of the Olympics, it will happen a few days before the Olympics start. Two games will be hosted: Rocket League and Street Fighter V. This is a pivotal moment in the world of eSports. This situation first happened back in the 2018 PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games when Intel partnered with the committee to host Starcraft II a few days prior. Rocket League and Street Fighter V are more popular titles than Starcraft II with just as competitive fanbases; however, next year’s competition is going to draw more eyes than the 2018 World Opener. Who knows, maybe these openers are leading up to eSports joining the Olympic games officially.
I hope it never does. Gaming is already dying as it is. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to see the best players from around the world join up with other players from their nationality and go at it head-to-head. Competition is great, and just like in sports, eSports grants some fantastic moments. No, the Olympic competition and atmosphere aren’t giving me anxiety about these games. It's money and gaming culture. The world opener is dedicating $250,000 in prize money to each eSport. This isn’t a shocking amount of cash compared to other eSports events. The 2018 Rocket League Championship Series had a prize pool of $1 million. What I think is a problem is the build-up of such large cash prizes. Money taints so many things. Professional sports is a prime example of this. How many times has a player or a manager made a decision based on salaries? Look no further than when the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 because the Red
Sox’s manager wanted to support his musical. To me, the decline of gaming happened when tournaments started being played in stadiums. I think there’s a threshold between a specific culture and mainstream culture. Gaming has had its own culture and self-sustaining industry for a while. Heck, mainstream despised gaming and thought it was despicable for so many years, and still does to some degree. However, two trends have built over time: the money being spent on gaming and mainstream culture catching on to it. Once businessmen in the mainstream caught on to the potential income gaming could produce, that threshold was crossed. Gaming now has corporations controlling a significant part of its industry. The prime example of this is EA and loot boxes. Their influence and control over staple gaming titles have mirrored the gaming community and is spreading. Lesser companies see the money they are making and want larger funds as well. Can I blame them? I sup-
pose not, growth and income aren't bad. I just wish in this instance it wasn’t affecting the culture. I am not a Street Fighter fan, but I am of Rocket League. I’ve been playing “car soccer” for about three years now. The game has changed a lot since I started, let alone when it first came out. Aside from the increase in skill level, the culture of the game has also changed. If there is one word to describe the culture’s attitude, I think most players would say “toxic.” To me, the game has become a cesspool similar to YouTube comments. More is at stake because more money and bragging rights are to be made. I’m excited to see a highlevel play of Rocket League and Street Fighter V so close to the Olympic Games; however, I don’t want to see other amazing games overrun by corporate greed and overlycompetitive players. Video games are called games for a reason: to have fun and escape from the struggles of life. I don’t want to see video games become a struggle as well.
NEWS
In the news: Three notable headlines EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a synopsis of a recent topic trending in world or national news. DYLAN CLELAND Sports Editor
1. Giuliani to aid Trump in impeachment troubles Following the news of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bringing forth an official inquiry for impeachment against President Donald Trump last week, his personal attorney and the former mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani spoke out Sunday stating, he would consider cooperating with House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff but made no direct promises. He stated he would “consider it,” but didn’t pledge to anything in particular, going on to say Trump would have to direct him. Giuliani doesn’t believe Schiff is a sufficient chair, calling him an “illegitimate chairman.” 2. Purple Heart recipient dies after saving life Don Osteen, age 69, lost his life last Monday after suffering from a heart attack during a necessary surgery he was receiving, due to his involvement in an explosion inside a home. Osteen, who received the Purple Heart for
Tribune News Serivce
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York, agrees to aid President Donald Trump in impeachment troubles. his efforts during the Vietnam War, saved his 3-yearold granddaughter after the Oklahoma house exploded. Osteen saved Paeytn, who suffered burns on over 30 percent of her body, but survived the explosion. Osteen suffered burns on over 78 percent of his body, as well as other injuries that lead to the surgery. 3. Officer killed with own gun in New York City Sunday morning a New York City police officer lost his life during the arrest of an armed assailant in the Bronx.
Officer Brian Mulkeen was assigned to an area where gang activity was present. The officer’s gun was fired five times, but it wasn’t known if the officer actually shot it. The officer was
shot in the struggle and died shortly after. Mulkeen had served seven years. Mayor Bill de Blasio said all flags in N.Y.C. would be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of Mulkeen.
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OCTOBER 3, 2019
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College democrats speak up about presidential debate LACHLAN LOUDON Web Editort
In the heat of the 2019 democratic debates, the College Democrats have been officially organized as a new club on campus. Before, there was a small interest around the university’s student democrats to rival the larger and fairly popular, Republican Club. Holly Ludvigsen, junior criminal justice major and Stover scholar, is the de facto leader of the new democrats group. She has taken initiative this fall to create an official club represented for the first time at the activities fair on Sept. 25. The newly founded group has been having consistent gatherings and has assembled to watch the recent democratic debates. “I think a lot of people in our generation just don’t really realize how actual policies affect them. So, trying to get people to realize that the people on this stage could actually, like, change their lives for the better [is what we’re doing],” Ludvigson said. Ludvigsen understands that the unversity consists of mostly conservative, right-learning individuals, and feels it is important that both parties watch these
debates. “I’ve spoken with T.J. DeNofrio, the leader of the [Republican Club], and he watches all the debates and he encourages people to,” Ludvigson said. “I think that it’s important to watch and see if there’s any common ground between the two sides … America is so incredibly divided.” Other college democrats have been actively tracking the debates and have been selecting their favorite candidates thus far. Sara Byler, senior pre-law and business management double major, is one of the members of the new College Democrats and is currently favoring Mayor Pete Budigieg. She is very passionate about certain issues such as mass incarceration and racial reconciliation, while an advocate for healthcare. “I think we tend to lean towards issues that affect us personally,” Byler said. “Which is why healthcare is a really big thing for me, because I don’t have healthcare right now.” Sophomore sociology major and Bonner scholar, Christopher Battaglia, is an active democrat and a civically involved voter and labels himself as “very progressive.” Battaglia believes in issues relating to social
Tribune News
Candidates went head to head at the first democratic presidental debate of the year, discussing topics from healthcare to climate change. justice and immigration, favoring former representative Beto O’Rourke of Texas and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. “He’s a white man [Beto O’Rourke], but he’s very progressive in his thoughts on feminism and racism in America,” Battaglia said. A common hope among democrats for the upcoming primary election is that they can elect someone who is capable of beating President Donald Trump in 2020 as he runs for his second term. “Focusing on the actual issues is going to be a bet-
ter pathway to winning the presidency than just going after Trump,” Ludvigsen said. “However, I do think electing someone who can beat Trump is important. We need to appeal to enough of those ‘middle ground,’ undecided voters. Those are the voters we lost in 2016, and that’s what got Trump in the White House.” The importance of finding “common ground” with the opposition is difficult in these divided times, as Ludvigson described. “I have a very hard time straying away from what I believe just to get someone
else out of office,” Byler said. “And while I would prefer to see a different president, I think if they would differ too far from my [ideals, morals and ethics], I think it would be just the same as the current president that we have. So, I don’t see there being much improvement if that’s the case.” While there are more democrats on campus paying attention to these debates, there are also some conservative, right-leaning students who have taken the time to inform themselves on the democratic primary candidates. One of these,
Student Senate President and Stover Scholar, Ryan Williams, favors entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. “[There are many politicians] who are starting to shift way too far to the left of the spectrum,” Williams said. “[We need] someone who can reach to the Republicans who don’t like Trump, [along with] the democrat voters.” Despite being left-leaning candidates, Gabbard and Yang appeal to Williams and have a more conservative, centrist influence than most of the other candidates. These two also have a more popular status among middle-ground voters who are unsure of re-electing Trump. Despite his faith in Gabbard and Yang, Williams predicts a Bernie Sanders victory in the primary election. “You see Kamala Harris coming out in the second debate and addressing Trump in her introduction,” Ludvigsen said. “It is these two different types of mindsets, ‘Do we focus on the issues or do we focus on criticizing Trump?’ Most Americans are just tired of hearing about Trump.” The next democratic debate will broadcast Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.
Mellon grant endorses service ideas Leadership class prompts students' service projects JOE SMELTZER Sports Web Editor
Waynesburg University’s motto has long been established as “faith, learning and service.” The last of those three core values is the focal point of a grant from the Richard K Mellon foundation that was given to the university two years ago. Service is the main idea of the grant, and it allowed Waynesburg students and faculty to serve in different areas. One arena for that funding, Assistant Dean of Student Services Kelley Hardie said, is to accommodate many grants sponsored through the center through service leadership office to facility, staff and students. The five areas that are eligible for these grants are: children and youth, food insecurity, historical preservation, senior care and environmental stewardship. The amount of money applied for varies from as low as $500 to the maximum amount $5,000. The grants will be issued this semester, and will need to be completed before the end of this academic year. Last year, the university received 18 grants, and of those 18, 16 met the criteria
and were awarded. For Hardie, this year has been much smoother because people are already familiar with how everything operates. “This year [everything is] going well, because people are already familiar with the process,” she said. “They’ve already applied for it last year. So they’ve had a year to really think about [what they would do next year]… I think the first year to any process is more the educational year. So this year, the foundation is in place.” Some of the grants that were applied for last year that were $5,000 was for the education department. Dr. Julie Bausman, associate professor of education, applied for $5,000 for the education department to acquire iPads for students to take to off-site tutoring locations. Another such grant was applied for and received by a student, senior Nic Burgess. Then a junior, Burgess applied for a grant to start a project for camera supplies necessary to launch free photography classes off campus for children and adults. Some grants required less of a commitment. Patience Yobp, a senior criminal justice major, applied for a $500 grant to work with
EMMA HERRLE Social Media Editor
Courtesy of Adrienne Tharp
Senior Nic Burgess used his grant last year to launch free photography classes for children off campus. child identification kids as a junior. Yobp worked with a local school to pick up these kits that would be used for parents to help find children who are lost. Grant applications are available through Nov. 4. Notifications will be sent Nov. 13, and projects must be underway by early January. “I would just encourage faculty, staff and students to apply for one of these grants,” Hardie said. “They’re great opportunities that can help our community here in Greene County.”
Michele Keith, who graduated from Waynesburg this past May and is now a graduate assistant in Student Services, received a 1,000 grant with the focus of her project being to provide toiletries for the five school districts in Greene County. Keith advises anybody considering applying for a grant to pursue it. “It’s a really great experience writing a grant and seeing a project through, and secondly you’re doing really good things for the community here,” Kieth said.
Fiat Lux focuses on entrepreneurship LACHLAN LOUDON Web Editor
Waynesburg University is encouraging a new spirit of entrepreneurial leadership on campus. The term “entrepreneur” does not just apply to the business field, but calls for students to enter a certain mindset they can greatly benefit from in their lives. A new minor was introduced on the topic as well as changes to Fiat Lux classes to introduce these ideas to students freshman year. “My charge was to really enfuse the entrepreneurial mindset to every student on campus – exposure to the entrepreneurial mindset,” Dr. Melinda Walls, the W. Robert Stover Chair for Entrepreneurial Leadership, said. “We decided to do that by offering it in Fiat Lux courses.” Walls was hired to facilitate this new entrepreneurial leadership initia-
tive. She is responsible for the changes in Fiat Lux this year, including the study of the book, “Who Owns the Ice House?” written by Clifton Taulbert and Gary Schoeniger. “In this section of Fiat Lux, we talk a lot about the difference between spending and investing, and the types of rewards you get,” Walls said. “How you spend or invest your time really tells a lot about who you are and who you’re going to be.” The goal of this initiative is not to breed entrepreneurs, but to introduce a new mindset to students going into their freshman year. A large part of putting this mindset into practice is changing from a “consumption mentality into one of a doing, action mentality,” as Walls describes. “Having this open mindset is one that allows you to see things differently, recognize opportunities
and solve problems that are important to you and the world around you,” Walls said. “What we want to do is have students fall in love with a problem that is important to them and then find, develop and execute a meaningful solution.” The mindset of an entrepreneur can also directly apply to the service aspect of Waynesburg University, one of the mission statement’s core values. Students are going to be taught to move from idea to implementation, and whether this is in the business department or a service project, the hope is that students will benefit from this mindset wherever they choose to go. As Fiat Lux is changing for students, sophomore pre-medical biology major and student ambassador Andrew Gordon is closely involved with Fiat Lux classes as a student men-
tor in biology professor Dr. Rossiter’s class. “I do see a more noticeable emphasis on recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, recognizing your personality and an emphasis on entrepreneurship,” Gordon said. While Fiat Lux classes are still generally the same, the emphasis on entrepreneurial leadership is very noticeable in the course syllabus, and the mindset is now integrated into the class. “[Entrepreneurship] can be done very creatively, and no matter the major, it can be done, depending on what you’d like to implement and the goals that you have in mind,” Gordon said. Students have an opportunity to take part in a campus-wide event with the eHive through the upcoming innovation challenge, “Something from Nothing,” on Oct. 3.
The mission of Waynesburg University is to educate students to make connections between faith, learning and serving so they might faithfully transform their communities and the world. A project being conducted by a small group of accounting majors intends to fulfill this mission. Students from Wesley Hershelman’s Leadership Class are collaborating to impact the community and grow in leadership by fostering professional and business skills. Wesley Hershelman, instructor of business administration at Waynesburg University, is teaching a class of leadership in the business world. Students are required to complete a team project that will leave a lasting impact on the community. Taylor Summerville, senior accounting major, Taylor McCall, senior forensic accounting major, Louis Scataglia, senior accounting major, and Tiffany Ross, senior accounting major, make up the team of four who have partnered with Dress for Success and are working to aid in the process of providing women in need with business and professional clothing to prepare them for interviews and the job world. “We had to partner with an organization that solves a problem,” said McCall. “Dress for Success’s problem is that their location in Washington doesn’t have the staff and volunteers to transport clothes from Waynesburg to Washington. We’re just trying to jump start that process and get the community aware and involved.” The team will be auctioning off raffle baskets at three different events this fall in order to raise money to purchase clothing. They will be at Tractor Supply the evening of Oct. 25 and will be at the basketball games held on the university’s campus Nov. 12 and 19. They are currently in the process of acquiring these baskets as donations and currently have about five
or six to rely on. . “I’m about to head to a bunch of places to hang flyers and advertise,” said Scataglia. “I’m going to stop in at Sheetz, Aldi’s and Walmart and ask for a donation basket or a place to hang flyers.” The team has already received baskets from Jefferson Floral, First Federal Bank, Seven Springs and a few others. “Our big objective right now is just getting the word out and getting all of the supplies that we need,” McCall said. The team has to accumulate 30 hours of service by the end of Nov. to complete the project and graduate. This class and project have served as a resume-builder and has encouraged the students to apply and learn important skills that they will use in their career. “Leadership is a universal concept no matter what field you are in,” Scataglia said. “Being a good leader is the framework to becoming successful.” The team members can also all agree that they’ve had to practice communication skills, time management skills and the importance of teamwork. “From freshman year to senior year you are always taught how to work on teams in a business setting,” McCall said. “Fortunately, we were able to choose each other. Our team is great and we can really depend on each other.” The project has also opened their eyes to a significant problem within the community. “I didn’t realize how big of a problem it was until we started,” said McCall. “There are people in need and this could really help them get jobs or even be ready for the job field. Our hope is to have a lasting impact and especially since we have the Bonner program. Hopefully, we could see this continued through them.” Dress for success is just beginning to get in touch with the university. This could be the beginning of a much longer partnership, impacting many through faith, service and learning.
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Reunion Continued from A1 will see friends and acquaintances for the first time in 50 years, and in addition, they will be able to see the vast changes that have occurred at the university since the last time they explored campus. “Campus looks and feels a lot different than it did 50 years ago,” Floyd said. “Lots of new buildings, lots of renovated buildings and just a bit of a different atmosphere, so I think it’s fun for the alumni to come back and see how it’s changed and remember what used to be in certain places. I think that’s one of the fun parts about Homecoming.” Some of those changes include the recent renovations done in Stover Campus Center, Stewart Hall and the residents halls, but they also include major structures, such as the addition of Robert’s Chapel and the Goodwin Performing Arts Center. Even many of the resident halls
OCTOBER 3, 2019 were nonexistent back then, such as Willison and the SWEP halls. Not only has the layout of campus changed, but many programs have been added and expanded upon since then as well. Included in the schedule of events for the weekend are the President’s Reception Oct. 4, from 3-5 p.m., the 23rd Annual Homecoming 5K Run and Walk, beg inning at 8:30 a.m. the morning of Oct. 5 and Jacketfest in Johnson Commons from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 5. The Thiel College Tomcats will visit to take on the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets at the Homecoming football game Oct. 5, at 1:30 p.m. Halftime will host the Alumni Celebration, according to the Homecoming 2019 pamphlet. The overall hope, Floyd explained, is that the class reunions and other events will bring alumni together to experience a rare connection with their past friends and classmates during this Homecoming weekend. For more information on Homecoming, contact David Floyd at 724-852-7725.
Security prepares for Homecoming RON WHITE
For The Yellow Jacket
With homecoming quickly approaching, the Department of Public Safety is preparing for all of the upcoming festivities. Additional staff will be on hand throughout the weekend on campus. Not only is the football game the biggest event of the weekend, but the 5K race and many other individual events are also taking place. Mike Hummiston, director of public safety, will be working in conjunction with the local police department to ensure everyone’s safety at Saturday’s football game. Local police, along with public safety staff, will help with traffic control at the game and patrolling the area, making their presence known. They will be watching out for the alumni and other visitors on campus this weekend. “With alumni, friends, family and students gathering together, public safety will be working hard to be sure everyone is aware of Waynesburg University’s
policies and procedures,” Hummiston said. Among the concerns Hummiston has for the game are alcohol and tailgating. The student body is aware of the rules, but they will not be the only fans in attendance. Alumni, friends of the university and community visitors will also be enjoying the festivities. Keeping everyone safe will be the priority of local police and public safety. After the game, additional public safety staff will be on campus to ensure everyone is aware of the policies, especially that of alcohol on campus. Historically, this weekend tends to be busy and full of celebrations. Public safety is geared up to make sure the celebration stays within the policy guidelines. Another daunting task facing the public safety is clearing local streets for the 5K run on Saturday. Washington Street and Wayne Street will need to be cleared to facilitate the race. Hummiston said, “that is not always an easy task.” Public safety will also help with traffic control and pe-
Court
Majors Continued from A1 booming job fields with significant projected growth. Department faculty strategically select a course load to properly prepare students with the key skills necessary in that area of study. “We want our students to walk into positions when they graduate and have all the skills for the jobs of the future,” Leichliter-Krause said. “We know that means having curricula that are cutting-edge.” Departments interested in expanding their program to include a new major or minor must create a proposal outlining the need the curriculum will meet, key knowledge students will acquire from the program, as well as how the new major or minor may impact other programs offered at the university.
The Department of Public Safety prepares for Homecoming's many events this weekend. destrian traffic for the race. In past years, traffic control has been a problem. Visitors are unaware of traffic patterns and find themselves going the wrong direction on a one-way street or parking illegally. “Along with the staff, we want to make a safe environment for students, friends, and family at homecoming, and we will do our best to make that happen,” Hummiston said.
Vendors, gatherings and fellowship events are planned throughout the weekend. Hummiston, however, is optimistic about all the duties and concerns in front of him. “Hopefully everybody is going to do what they do; if they see something or hear something, to say something,” Hummiston said. “Help from the students is crucial for us to be able to do our job.”
Nonprofit status benefits university, aligns with mission
Continued from A1 all of the relationships she has been able to maintain throughout the student body. “You know that you have somehow touched them,” Dziak said. “It shows how much you’ve impacted people.” Dziak, who has always wanted to be homecoming queen, thoug ht i t wo u l d m e r e l y r e m a i n a dream after her high school election, which she said was based largely on looks, wealth and popularity rather than who truly would best represent the class and deserved the honor. “Here, they don’t care what you have, they care who you are,” Dziak said. “Everyone is so kind.” Dziak truly loves and cares for the university, student body and alumni network and acting as a symbol for the university as a part of the homecoming court is an honor, she said. “It is a ver y special place, and to be able to represent it in this way is so amazing,” she said. As the upcoming homecoming game and announcement of king and queen draws closer, the court remains a positive and friendly group. “It’s not even a competition,” Dziak said. “We truly want everyone to win.”
Photo courtesy of Paul Hicks
SIERRA MEDINA Editorial Assistant
Photos courtesy of Student Services
The 2019 Homecoming court was selected in advance of this year's Homecoming game. From left to right, starting at the top, are seniors Heidi Dziak, Rebekah Mohnkern, Hannah Sembower, Naomi Swaney, Alexis Taylor, Nicolas Burgess, Thomas Faye, Harrison Scott, Tré Thomas and Jordan Wherthey. This year's king and queen will be announced at the game Saturday.
“They want to make sure this is a major that is going to work really well for everyone,” Leichliter-Krause said. After the proposal for a new curriculum is deemed feasible, the proposal is then advanced to the curriculum committee and finally voted on by the board of trustees. “The faculty are excellent at asking great questions,” Leichliter-Krause said. “It’s because they really want to be helpful and make sure all of the i’s are dotted and the t's are crossed.” One of the curriculums to pass this rigorous process was the newly established health management major and minor program, offered through the business department. Exceptional growth in the field encouraged Gordon McClung, chairperson for the business administration department, to create the curriculum for the major. “Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 20%
from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations,” he said. “Healthcare management provides an opportunity to pursue a healthcare career outside direct patient care.” Health care requires employees who are skilled in human resources, office operations, accounting, finance, management, marketing and data analytics. The virtues of that field require many of the key principles of the mission of the university, says McClung. “Health Care Management is a natural extension of our mission as a university, founded on faith and service,” he said. “The alumni of WU are predisposed to a life of service, and health care management provides an opportunity to pursue a career that draws on our alumni’s skill sets and affinity for service.” Leichliter-Krause also strives to incorporate the University’s mission statement within new areas of study.
“We’re always very mission-centric, but of course we’re also trying to be very student-centered,” Leichliter-Krause said. The university’s dedication to cutting-edge education is intended to put graduates 10 steps ahead of competing peers from other universities. “We want to make sure that, as we’re projecting what is going to be most necessary in the coming future, we are offering those programs,” Leichliter-Krause said. As the university studies job projections and creates curriculum to meet the ever-transforming needs of the future job market, faculty and staff stay focused on equipping current and future students with the skills needed in their intended career paths. “That’s where a lot of these curricula decisions come into play,” Leichliter-Krause said. “Trying to make sure that we are truly preparing students, not just right now, but in the future as well.”
Nonprofits are tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service on money received for their organization because of the verified ways they are advancing the community or providing benefits educationally, religiously, scientifically or otherwise. Stacey Brodak, vice president for Institutional Advancement and University Relations said more universities than not have a nonprofit status due to their myriad of advantages. Waynesburg University is one of them. “I would think that most universities are nonprofit, probably for the same reasons too. You do have tax benefits for both the university and donors as a nonprofit,” Brodak said. “As a not-for-profit organization, Waynesburg University attains federal and state tax benefits, and that’s very helpful to us from an administrative level and a financial level.” In order to be approved as a nonprofit organization, a mission must be developed, approved and maintained, Brodak said. “As an education institution, our mission is in making sure that we’re dedicated to the education of our students. That’s where the funds are going, so that’s why you get that benefit,” Brodak said. “They [the federal and state government] approve and believe in the mission that we have.” A nonprofit status diversifies an institution’s financial abilities and provides benefits for those that donate to the institution as well, Brodak said. “We are not confined due to this status — just the opposite. The fact that we’re a nonprofit enables us to attract financial investment from people and organizations that we would not [if we were] a for-profit institution,” Brodak said. “Our donors: businesses, corporations and other foundations and nonprofits, will not give to an agency that is not a nonprofit.” The process for receiving grants and other government-funded initiatives is similarly more achievable as a nonprofit. The private donor benefit is really significant as well. Alumni and private individual donors also receive a tax credit, an amount of money
that can be offset against a tax liability, by donating to the University. “It can be very advantageous for a donor to understand that they have the choice to give to a for-profit or a nonprofit institution,” Brodak said. “So that’s a win for us and for the donor that’s giving the money. Being a nonprofit opens more doors for us to attract investors.” Because the government provides this tax benefit, the University must meet requirements and comply with all of the laws, rules and regulations accordingly. This is done by giving certain tax documents and an audit to the state and federal government every year. “We ensure that all of our efforts and bookkeeping are accurate, and those are sent to the state and federal government,” Brodak said. “We are responsible to make sure we’re transparent.” Brodak says Waynesburg University will stay a nonprofit; she does not foresee a change on the horizon at all. “I do think, by being nonprofit, we have very specific goals we are trying to achieve, and all of those are really about educating our students,” Brodak said. “I think it really drives us in a really good way, and we’re completely conscientious, because we’re constantly focused on our donor and student intent.” Kelley Hardie, director of the Center for Service Leadership and assistant dean of students, reflected on how the nonprofit status aids the university in accountability to its mission statement. “Waynesburg University is a nonprofit because we operate independently and do not have an organization oversee our goals and outcomes,” Hardie said. “Our mission of ‘Faith, Learning and Service,’ has a strong emphasis on developing the student through all aspects of life. This includes local, domestic and international service experiences, never generating a profit through these experiences, rather, focusing on student-development.” Brodak added that the mission of the institution is to remain student-centered. “We think about what’s best for our students and their outcomes,” she said. “It naturally puts us in a great position to be very focused on delivering the mission.”
region SECTION B
OCTOBER 3, 2019 | WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY | THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG
SAFETY FIRST
Tribune News Service
PennDOT receives automated vehicle research grant ANGELICA GOOD Editorial Assistant
On Sept. 23-27, the Pe n n s y l va n i a D e p a r t ment of Transportation announced they have received a grant of $8,409,444 to utilize. “The intent of PennDOT’s application is to develop a consistent approach to allow for AVs to safely operate in work zones. Knowing that there is unlikely a single solution, the PennDOT proposal focuses on a combination of connectivity, machine visioning, and high definition mapping,” said Mark C. Kopko, director of the Office of Transformational Technology. To demonstrate the viability of the solution, the project will perform the demonstrations in a variety of work zone configurations, with varying scale, complexity and duration. PennDOT plans to take a systematic approach of working with testers to verify the proposed AV solutions. “First, all solutions and approaches will be run through multiple simulations. Then demonstrations will occur on a controlled, closed-course
e nv i r o n m e nt i n S t a t e College [, Pennsylvania]. Eventually, upon successful testing, PennDOT will work with the project team to safely integrate the solutions into limited, small-scale demonstrations,” Kopko said. The main goals of the Advanced Data System Demonstration grant are safety, data for safety analysis and rulemaking, as well as collaboration. Safety focuses on testing the safe integration into the nation’s on-road transportation system. T h e d at a fo r s a fet y
analysis and rulemaking consists of ensuring the public of significant data gathering and sharing of data throughout the project. Finally, collaboration is what ties it all together. PennDOT then works with innovative state, local governments and private partners to create collaborative environments that entices expertise and knowledge. Kopko said it is an honor for PennDOT to receive such a generous grant. “USDOT received 73 applications from cities, counties, metropolitan
Graphic by Elaina Spahmer
planning organizations, states, transit agencies, other transportation authorities and public universities. Only eight grants were awarded across seven organizations. Of the awardees, PennDOT received the largest single award,” Kopko said. Although it is the first time PennDOT is able to apply for an ADS Demonstration Grant, PennDOT has received other USDOT grants in the past. The only restriction this grant sets besides the GRANT >> B2
Greene mines surviving despite country closures REBEKAH VAUGHAN For the Yellow Jacket
This past March, two large coal mines in Wyoming shut down after filing bankruptcy, Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr. They were the fourth and sixth largest coal mines in the country. While the ripple effect of their closures was felt by Wyoming taxpayers and vendors, how far has the ripple effect spread though? How i t is af fecting western Pennsylvania and surrounding areas? “We haven’t seen any of that yet,” said Blair Zimmerman, chairman for the Greene County Board of Commissioners. Greene County coal mining is still as strong as ever. The county never felt any impact from the two c l o s i n g s i n Wyo m i n g . Greene County also never felt any boost from President Donald Trump's presidential campaign promise for coal revival, Zimmerman explained. Zimmerman also said that wi thout the coal mining industry, Greene County wouldn’t be surviving as well as it is. Other coal mining areas have not been as fortunate, however. Zimmerman explained more coal mines have been shut down during Trump's presidency than former president Barack Obama’s eight terms. According to the Collation of U.S. Energy Information Administration and Reuters’ data, more
coal-fed power plants have shut down in America during Trump’s first two years than were decommissioned in the entirety of Obama’s first term as president. Since the peak in coal capaci t y in 2011, coal plants have decreased in numbers and production. Coal exports in general are diminishing as cleaner energy sources become more prevalent, even though Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Breaking away from this agreement was supposed to make it easier for the revival of the coal industry. According to an article from the Pittsburgh PostGazette, coal is declining across the country, and it is beginning to affect jobs. Norfolk Southern Corp., a Virginia based rail carrier, has begun to furlough workers. CSX Corps., another railroad company that has also taken action to try to stay relevant after the coal business, dived 19% in 2015. Once coal dies off completely thoug h, many railways will be left abandoned. Norfolk Southern plans to dispose of 1,500 miles of track by 2020 and lay off 2,000 more employees in areas with less coal traffic, according to the article. Luckily though, it seems coal mining in western Pennsylvania and Green County specifically is still holding on, even if sacrifices have to be made by companies to let the industry continue pushing through.
Farmer Solar Festival endorses cleaner energy option notices climate change SIERRA MEDINA Editorial Assistant
RACHEL PELLEGRINO Op/Ed Editor
Shields Herb and Flower Farm in Spraggs, Pennsylvania, has provided with plants of all types since 1982. “Since then, we’ve definitely noticed a change,” said Alex Shields, the son of the owner Leigh Shields. The change Shields is talking about is a rising global temperatures. The Department of Environmental Protection of Pennsylvania reported the state’s climate has risen 1.8 degrees Farenheight over the past 110 years. The cause of this change is human activities affecting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. These greenhouse gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, are dangerous because they trap heat from the Earth in the atmosphere, according to the website. This results in an imbalance of the heat energy in the atmosphere, which in turn causes the warming or cooling of Earth’s climate. Rural areas, such as Greene County, are experiencing the blunt of this FARM >> B2
Though the sun is setting earlier and earlier as winter approaches, it is just now rising for the future of renewable resources, especially that of solar energy. The Center for Coalfield Justice and Solar United Neighbors have pooled their resources to provide vital information and resources to the people of Greene County through the Greene County Solar Festival Saturday, Sept. 28, said Executive Director of the Center for Coalfield Justice Veronica Coptis. “Our goal is that people walk away with a better idea of the opportunities that solar energy will provide and the economic opportunities,” Coptis said. SOLAR >> B2
Courtesy of Center for Coalfield Justice
Solar energy companies educating with Solar Festival visitors the impact of solar energy and their products Sept. 28.
PAMX president reflects on motocross history ANGELICA GOOD Editorial Assistant
Motocross is a growing sport, and continues to increase in its popularity. “PAMX is an organization that promotes motocross in Pennsylvania,” President of PAMX Jeff Cernic said. The PAMX season is from March through October. With only a month left in the season, there are still
a few more races to look forward to. Some are even coming up as soon as this weekend. “It’s going to be a great weekend,” Cernic said. “It’s going to be packed.” While popular in America, the sport originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1900s. Auto-cycle clubs held time trials that evolved into regular events called scrambles. As
they became more popular, more competitions happened throughout Britain. As a result, they began making motorcycles that would be better for off -roading. In the 1970s, it gained popularity in the United States. The first motocross stadium in the United States was the Los Angeles Coliseum. “I’ve been racing all my life,” Cernic said, “for over
45 years.” The organization has riders from ages four to 50. Despite being a growing sport, some people do not know how races work and how much riders must train. Many professionals go to the gym several times a week. “The hardest thing about motocross is that it is an individual sport,” Cernic said.
Riders must wear helmets with chin straps so if they wreck the helmet will not fly off. They wear shatter-proof gogg les, body armor, knee pads and steel-toed boots. At an event, the riders start at the gate, which is a metal barrier that drops when the race starts. If a rider starts too soon, their wheel PAMX>> B2
OCTOBER 3, 2019
PAGE B2
County's United Way celebrates 40 years of service SIERRA MEDINA Editorial Assistant
For the past 40 years, a nonprofit organization nestled on High Street in Waynesburg has contributed to the economic of Greene County. Greene County United Way is a catalyst for change, care and community, said MaChal Forbes, executive director of Greene County United Way. Though many do not know of their existence, it is felt heavily by the 17 organizations that directly benefit from the United Way’s funding. “We’re trying to get out there as much as possible. I think it’s hard to hit everybody all of the time. We’re trying our best,” Forbes said. “ We work with 17 different humanservice agencies that provide programs that are a necessity to anyone that is struggling.” Greene County United Way has two main goals in the community: to bring people together to form solutions for challenges Greene County residents face and to help all of the residents in Greene County. “Our main goal is to bring people together to solve big problems and critical issues. We support agencies and nonprofits that provide educational programs, after-school programs, summer programs…,” Forbes said. The Salvation Army’s utility-assistant programs,
Farm Continued from B1 climate change because of their dependance on the areas’ natural resources. The county is home to numerous coal mines, gas companies and farms; all of which are experiencing effects from this national crisis. Despite the negative connotation with climate change, not all of these effects are bad. “It’s definitely become a lot warmer, we can grow things here and have them survive outdoors that we never could’ve a decade or two decades ago,” Shields said. For instance, the farm can now leave their tropical plants outside further into the fall. Shields explained also he has expe-
Solar Continued from B1 The event hosted a conglomeration of local solar installers that shared information directly with the public, as well as, owners of electric cars who offered test drives to those curious about its dynamics. Vendors included Momma’s Flags, Our Children Our Earth, Funnel Cakes, EIS Solar Green, Solar Systems, Envini ty and Appalachian Renewable Power. Dan Baker, Randy and Daria Jones and David and Mary Beth Craig provided music for the event. There is a hope between both agencies that this solar festival will be an annual event. “We want the community to know that even if you live in West-Greene you can have access to this information without having to drive to Pittsburgh to get it,” Coptis said. The Center for Coalfield Justice provides ser-
Corner Cupboard Food Bank Pantry-Distribution Program, Bowlby Library’s s u m m e r re a d i n g p ro grams, Catholic Charities pregnancy and parenting programs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers and Big Sisters are just a few of the agencies and programs supported by Greene County United Way. Forbes outlined the hope of Greene County United Way as it tackles comprehensive issues in the community. “We financially support programs that are a necessity to people in our community, but really, above and beyond that, it is bringing the people together,” she said. “As we work together, not only do we solve past issues but current issues, we look to see what’s coming down the pipeline in the future to either try to create a solution before it gets here, or to be on top of it when it does.” As a nonprofit, Greene County United Way receives a vast majority of its funding from community donations and place campaigns, as well as some fundraising. “You can give two different ways,” Forbes said. “You can give to the United Way, and it goes into our community impact fund which is the money we then give back out to those 17 programs within the community. Or, you can also give through the United Way, and we will take that money that you designate to whatever
Courtesy of Red Brick Communications
Greene County United Way celebrated its 40th anniversary with a pig roast at Thistlethwaite Vineyards Sept. 29 with music and a s'more bar. charities and make sure that it’s distributed to them.” Forbes said the United Way’s uniqueness stems from their three main priority areas: education, health and wellness, financial stability and emergency assistance, which gives them ample room to help people. “What I can tell you is that I love my job; I truly love my job,” Forbes said. “I grew up in Greene County and I have lived here almost my whole life. It brings me such joy knowing I am helping people in
my community and that by being a part of Greene County United Way I’m making this place better.” To celebrate its legacy and impact, the United Way held a pig roast at Thistlethwaite Vineyard in Jefferson, Pennsylvania, this past Saturday. The event was open to the community and had
live music, games, raffles, wine tasting and a portable s’mores bar. Though Forbes holds a part-time position at Greene County United Way, she knows it is always a full-time position to care for those around you. “I would hope that if somebody contacted us, whether we could help
them directly or not, that they always knew we were a resource to those in need. We’ll be that shoulder to cry on if they need it. I would love for our legacy to be that there’s no judgement, everybody struggles at some time or another and when that time comes, they can call us.”
Grant
rienced less frosts in September. Even thoug h Shields Herb and Flower Farm is able to grow different plants they were unable to in past years, the weather isn’t always reliable. “You can still have instances, all it takes is one night where it gets a little too cold and that can kill things off,” Shields said. This influx of temperature is just one of the many effects of climate change that the DEP lists on their website. Others include more flooding, more heat and respiratory deaths, increased disease and pests and disruptions to agricultural systems. Pennsylvania is getting warmer and wetter. For businesses like Shields Herb and Flower Farm, this could be both beneficial and harmful. It’s a change but one businesses can adjust to. “It def intiely has c h a n ged t h i s b u t yo u
can’t just totally rely on that. It has totally changed enough to grow everything that you want to,” Shields said. “You just have to watch for what species of plants you can grow now and what [the] survivability rate [is].”
Overall, Shields said there is a difference in the local climate and there has been for a number of years. “The short answer is there’s a difference, there’s definitely been a difference over the last
vices for Washington and Greene counties. Coptis, who resides in Greene County, recognizes that many in the surrounding area who may want to purchase these services are just unaware. “We are routinely traveling to other places to attend solar festivals. That information never seems to make it to the places that are interested and need that information,” Coptis said. “We thought we could hold our own festival and give residents the opportunity to be informed about the solar industry and available job opportunities in the solar industry.” The Center for Coalfield Justice has been answering questions in the community as an environmental advocacy agency long before the solar festival idea. For the last four years, they’ve been working on communicating available economic diversity. “ We’ve been educating people about available professions, not just good paying jobs in the fossil fuel industry, and making sure people have
options and an agency to help them decide where they’re going to support their families,” Coptis said. The agency works with about 2,000 members and supporters in the area, as well as eight full-time staff that work with members of the community. Solar United Neighbors has been working with the Center for Coalfield Justice in southwestern Pennsylvania for about a year on the Greene County Solar Festival. Henry McKay, Pennsylvania program director for Solar United Neighbors, notes that solar energy can be a hard sell to those in this area. “ This is a challenging market for solar energy. There’s a lot of solar growth happening in Pennsylvania but not so much southwestern Pennsylvania or Greene County,” McKay said. “Part of the reason is less awareness and understanding of how it can benefit the local economy and business. So, we thought a fun, flashy event like a solar festival could raise awareness and help more people benefit from the industry.”
McKay is hoping this event will make people take immediate action to go solar in their homes and businesses, as his main goal is to influence people through its benefits. “The future of energy is renewable resources, like solar, which doesn’t rely on fuels that run out and provides additional benefits that fossil fuels do not,” McKay said. “It is cleaner and renewable. If Pennsylvania wants to maintain energy leadership it really needs to get on board with the next generation of tech: solar.” Knowing that residents are interested in solar energy, said Coptis, will help with the slow transition to renewable resources, Copis explained. “Some of the reasons you would live in rural areas is because we have the least amount of people,” Coptis said. “But, when we need to be connected, we’re often last to get service. If we transition from being energy dependent to the largest grid, folks will have more access to the info that they didn’t have before.”
Continued from B1
Edward Boice, The Yellow Jacket
Adam Sheilds has noticed warmer temperatures while growing their flower products. few years.” Based on DEP’s statistics, Pennsylvania is expected to warm another 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050. DEP’s website also reads the state will see many more days above 90 degrees.
PAMX Continued from B1 will get stuck and they will lose time. “It takes about a week to
standard federal and state procurement restrictions, is that the grant must be used for these purposes within four years from the day it was issued. “Through the department’s oversight of automated vehicles over the years, it has become clear that AVs do not perform well in the work zones and routinely require human intervention. In many cases, testers try to avoid work zones altogether. Unlike other AV challenges, such as variable weather conditions, work zones offer a unique opportunity for industry and the public sector to collaborate to resolve this issue and safely advance ADS technology,” Kopko said.
25 points and second gets 22 and so on. At the end of the event, judges look at the scores and whoever has the most points is the winner. Depending on the race, they can win prize money. A rider can have a sponsorship from a company. They wear the compa-
“The hardest thing about motocross is that it is an individual sport.” JEFF CERNIC
PAMX President
set up for the races,” Cernic said. The track has large ramps and sharp turns that riders must be prepared for so they don’t wreck their bike. If they do wreck on an obstacle, they must try to get to safety with their bike so other riders do not land on them. In one race, there are about 20 to 30 riders, and the first one to make it through the finish line after completing all the laps wins. First place gets
ny’s gear and in turn, the company will pay them. “If you want to get into PAMX motocross,” Cernic said. “See your local dealer or go to PAMX.com.” The PAMX Fly Racing Pennsylvania State Championship is Oct. 5, starting at 7 a.m. and ending Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. A weekend pass is $10 with children being under 6 entering free of charge. For more information on the PAMX Series and racing, check out www.gopamx.com.
sports PAGE B3
OCTOBER 3, 2019 | WAYNESBURG UNIVERSITY | THEYELLOWJACKET.ORG
HOMECOMING ACTION
Photo Courtesy of Ashley Hall
Jackets in search of first win Saturday ADAM MORGANTE For the Yellow Jacket
After Waynesburg lost to Geneva this past Saturday to fall to 0-4, its next challenge will be the Thiel Tomcats, who are the only other 0-4 team in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Not only has Thiel not won a game this season, it has also lost 21 consecutive games. Thiel’s last win was against Bethany Sept. 16, 2017. This will be Waynesburg’s second home game of the season and will also be a part of the Homecoming weekend festivities. Waynesburg beat Carnegie Mellon last year on Homecoming, 2421. Waynesburg will look for its second straight home-
coming win this Saturday afternoon at 1:30. **** Changing the culture Head coach Chris Smithley sees some similarities between Waynesburg and Thiel. “They’re a program that’s in a similar situation to us. It’s trying to develop a new culture, I think they’ve made a lot of progress,” Smithley said. “You don’t really see that when you look at the scores of the games, but they’re circling this one. They’re coming down here to get a win and that’s the mindset that they’re going to have, and we have to play good football.” Waynesburg beat Thiel
last year, but it wasn’t an easy victory by any stretch. The Jackets were down 14-3 but found a way to come out on top. There were a lot of obstacles for Waynesburg to overcome in that game and Smithley expects more challenges against Thiel on Saturday. “I expect there to be some adversity again on Saturday,” Smithley said. “We talked about that this Saturday and how we got to handle those things. We’re going to stay the course here, we’re going to believe in the process because there is a process to this thing to get to where we want to be.” **** ‘Where it all begins’
For the key for Waynesburg to getting its first victory Smithley says that the Jackets must win at the line of scrimmage. “You have to win up front, on both sides of the ball, and that’s where it all begins,” Smithley said. “We look at Saturday and we had our opportunities in that game. “We played solid defense in the first half. One thing goes wrong, we give up a couple long runs on the next drive. I don’t think we won on the offensive line I don’t think we won on the defensive line.” **** A new field general Junior quarterback MaFOOTBALL >> B4
Q&A: Cipoletti begins tenure as men's golf coach And so far, early in the season, that’s been the case, they’ve made progress. I can’t take Michael Cipoletti is heav- credit for that, what I hope to ily involved on the academic do going forward is [to] help side at Waynesburg Univer- them keep taking steps, shavsity as an assistant professor ing strokes off their game, of forensic science. understanding More was added their game better. to his plate earlier Q: Has your exthis year, howevperience in the er, when he was forensic science named the head field helped with men’s golf coach. your coaching? Q: What made Yeah, data anayou initially want lytics, problem to take the men’s solving. Because head coaching job? what we do in my I didn’t ask. I Cipoletti academic field is didn’t seek it out, really trying to drill it kind of sought me out a down to the root causes of little bit. I’d had conversa- a problem so you can figure tions with coach [Sam] Jones out a solution. The biggest in the past about helping him golf geeks in the world are out with the men’s team if he really scientists. There’s a needed it because I knew he lot of data that can go into a had a lot of time in trying to golf swing like launch angle, coach two sports. The con- swing speeds, and weighting versation went to the new the club. There’s a lot of conathletic director [Adam Jack]. nections between my acaWe started discussing it more demics and golfing. You take formally and found a way to a scientific approach and you make it work, where I could can really start to drill down work and coach the men and to how can we improve this still do my faculty respon- guy’s swing mechanics. sibilities. On the other side, Q: Being a professor and I’ve been golfing since I was a coach, how do you balance a young teenager and have teaching work and coacha passion for it. I love being ing? around golf, I love watching It comes down to putgolf, playing golf and teaching ting in a lot of extra hours, people how to golf. organization and time manQ: Have you had any agement. Similar to student coaching experience in the athletes, I’m trying to teach past? these guys about time manI’ve coached a lot of dif- agement because they’re ferent sports in the past. I’ve trying to juggle being a fullnever coached at the college time student with putting level before. But I played bas- in all the time for athletics. ketball, football and baseball But I wouldn’t be coaching if prior to college. I’ve coached it wasn’t something I wasn’t all of those sports, in addition passionate about. to doing some golf coaching Q: What are you looking with youth. This is my first forward to the most for the foray into college coaching, rest of this season going into other than helping like an un- next season? official volunteer type. I really want us to start Q: What were your expec- getting into form for the first tations like coming into this two rounds of [Presidents’ first season, for yourself and Athletic Conference] Chamthe team? pionships. These guys need to Expectations for myself really focus in on playing their were to just get to know best round, getting their best these athletes and figure out score, or if they’re not playing where they were skillswise their best day, grind out their and what their goals were… best scores on that particular I looked at all their stats, I day. We need to find out who saw where they finished last our best five or six guys are year and I saw they had made heading into PACs. The guys some pretty good improve- need to put in work over the ments from the year before. wintertime, in the simulator, I assumed they would be able working on their mechanto make some progress over ics to prepare for the spring where they finished last year. season.
TANNER CYPROWSKI For the Yellow Jacket
Soccer teams host Grove City in PAC doubleheader COLIN MCLAUGHLIN For the Yellow Jacket
The Waynesburg University men’s and women’s soccer teams both have their first home conference games this Friday, Oct. 4. Both teams will be playing against Presidents’ Athletic Conference powerhouse Grove City. For both head coaches, Laura and Brad Heethuis, it will be the first time the teams play at home during homecoming weekend since they took over their respective programs in 2014. Brad Heethuis hopes the excitement of the weekend itself will boost the atmosphere of Friday’s matches “I would hope that it will be a good crowd on Friday night,” Brad Heethuis said. “It will be two good games. So, I am hoping that it will bring a little bit more energy and atmosphere and gives the guys a boost.” The men’s team started PAC play with a 1-1 draw
at Chatham last week. For Brad Heethuis, he is glad to have this week as time to start scouting Grove City. “Honestly, we haven’t looked a whole lot into them yet, we will do so in the next three to four days,” he said. “Knowing Grove City and their tradition it will be a strong, solid squad that will make us work for 90 minutes.” Brad Heethuis added that he was hoping for a win against Chatham, but being on the road to start the season and still getting a point is a positive. However, he also said that Grove City will definitely be a tougher match for the team since it won the PAC regular season championship last season. “The mentality coming in it’s a bring your lunch pail, time to work for 90 minutes type of mentality,” Brad Heethuis said. “I also think that we have had a number of chances that if you want to beat a team like Grove City you have to put those
chances away when we get them.” The women’s team also tied Chatham, 2-2. Laura Heethuis looked through film earlier in the week and saw that although the team has struggled record wise, record-wise they’ve struggled, their opponents level of play was strong. “It is going to be a hard battle,” Laura Heethuis said. “They have some injuries. So, we need to play really well on defense. It is going to be a good matchup because they also are strong on defense. So, we need to get up on the attack and exploit their weaknesses.” So far, this season, Laura Heethuis likes the resiliency her team has shown. She was happy to get a point on the road as well and wants to be able to “defend our turf” Friday night. “We can manage a game very well,” she said. “We need to keep showing that we can fight. There are still some things we are learn-
Photo Courtesy of Ashley Hall
Sophomore Haley Frizzell has started all 10 games for the women's soccer team this year and scored her first goal of the season last weekend against Chatham. ing, but heading into conference play I think we are putting everything together at the right time.” Both coach’s goals are to
finish in the top four of the PAC and win the championship. “We have the talent, depth and heart for it,” said
Laura Heethuis. The women’s kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the men’s game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
PAGE B4
OCTOBER 3, 2019
Cross country teams return to action following off week ANDREW HREHA
Digital News Content Director
It has been six years since the Waynesburg University cross country teams have traveled to Lehigh University to compete on the Paul Short Run course. That will change Saturday, as both the men’s and women’s teams will make their way to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to take part in the 2019 Paul Short Run Invitational. Both teams will look to keep successful seasons going and build up valuable experience for another race further down the road. “Our regional championship will be held there, and we wanted to get our athletes an opportunity to become familiar with the course,” assistant coach Michelle Cross said. “Though the athletes have not been there, as coaches we are familiar and I have been preparing them. It is actually well known for being a flat and fast course, so our athletes are excited to race there.” The competition at the invitational will be fierce, but head cross country coach Chris Hardie believes both teams can con-
Photo Courtesy of Patty Kaczynski Scott
Following a one week break for the women, and two weeks of rest for the men, both teams return to action Saturday at the Paul Short Run Invitational in Bethlehem, PA. tinue to perform at a high level. “Both teams are really hungry and focused on some lofty goals,” Hardie said. “We have seen a little bit more confidence in this young group too – and that makes a big difference in larger races. As for Paul Short specifically, they need to prepare well, be confident and really go for it on Saturday.”
OPINION
Jacket football needs win on Homecoming JOE SMELTZER Columnist
The last time the Waynesburg University football team finished a season without a win, John F. Kennedy was two months away from inauguration. If the Yellow Jackets, who currently sit at 0-4, don’t beat Thiel this Saturday on Homecoming at John F. Wiley Stadium, that’s the path they could be headed down. Waynesburg’s season hasn’t gone according to plan thus far. The Yellow Jackets came in to 2019 with their eyes set on a winning season and a postseason appearance, two things Waynesburg hasn’t accomplished since 2014. The Jackets will need to go 5-1 the rest of the way to qualify for the postseason, and 4-2 just to match their pedestrian 4-6 mark from a year ago. T h e go o d n ew s fo r Waynesburg is that there’s absolutely no reason why they couldn’t, and shouldn’t, get their first win Saturday. The Tomcats have lost 21 games in a row, and their four losses this year are by an average of 41 points. The most points Thiel has scored in 2019? 10. The fewest they’ve allowed? 37. A beatable opponent, combined with the occasion of Homecoming, should be a perfect setup for a win. Which is why it would be such a disappointment, and such a concern, if the Jackets can’t deliver. Waynesburg’s conference schedule only gets harder in the second half of the season. Of the Jackets’ three Presidents’ Athletic Conference opponents thus far, Westminster, Bethany and Geneva, only Westminster is a threat to win the conference championship. After Thiel
Football Continued from B3 son Schrenker made his first career start against
This invitational brings in a lot of competition, as there are three races that can have as many as 50 teams competing in each. For Cross, these types of meets are beneficial largely because they give Waynesburg an opportunity to size up larger schools. “It is an absolutely massive meet - all divisions are represented and represented well,” Cross said.
“But, we really always want to see how we match up against our bigger regional talent.” Individually, both coaches mentioned freshman Jac Cokley and sophomore Aubrey Wingeart as standouts for their respective teams. “Aubrey Wingeart is a special runner and is showing signs that she might be ready to get to the next level in her career,” Hardie
said. “Jac Cokley is having a great freshman year in our sport. He is mentally tough, and he sets high expectations [for] himself. He motivates himself to be better every day. It’s a unique gift and skill that you cannot teach.” Both teams have had success this season and are looking to compete for a Presidents’ Athletic Conference Champion-
ship Nov. 2. Cross believes attention to detail will put both teams in a position to do just that. “Both teams have very specific goals they want to accomplish by the end of the season, and that is where their mind is,” Cross said. “They are doing the little things - eating what they should, sleeping, doing extra repeats at practice, etc. Often it’s the willingness to be faithful in the small things that show big rewards.” For the women to have a shot at their fourth straight PAC title and the men to compete for one of their own, both teams need to continue to focus on those little things, Hardie said. “The men need to put forth a championship type effort over the course of the next five weeks. In that span, they have 12 opportunities through their training to get faster and improve,” he said. “They need to take advantage of every one of those opportunities. The women are in the same boat. They are being pressed by Geneva, so they need to outwork the rest of the conference over the course of the next five weeks.
Golf heads to PAC Championships ANTONIO PELULLO CALEB YAUGER Staff Report
is when the Yellow Jackets’ conference schedule starts to get interesting. Here’s an idea of what Waynesburg’s last five games look like. Week Six @ Carnegie Mellon: The Tartans are currently 4-0, highlighted by an upset of nationally ranked and conference favorite Washington & Jefferson in week three. Week Seven vs. Grove City: Three years ago, Grove City was the laughing stock of the PAC. Not anymore. The Wolverines turned a corner in 2018, going 8-3, with one of those wins being a 28-3 triumph over Waynesburg Oct. 13. This year has been lukewarm for head coach Andrew Didonato. Grove City is currently 2-2. Both of those loses, however, have come against elite opponents in Case Western Reserve and W&J. The Wolverines caught fire in the second half of last season, winning their last seven games. We’ll see where they are when they come to Greene County Oct. 19. Week Eight vs. St. Vincent: Don’t let the 0-3 record fool you. This is an improved football team led by a promising freshman quarterback in Brady Walker. The Bearcats hung with Carnegie Mellon for a half last week, and will only grow as the season goes on. Week Ten vs. Case Western: One of the PAC’s best, year in and year out. Week Eleven @ W&J: See above. The Presidents’ Athletic Conference is about more than just W&J and Case Western being excellent while the rest are solid at best, which has been the case in recent years. This is a balanced conference. If Waynesburg beats Thiel Saturday and looks good doing it, that could boost its confidence and lead to some wins. If it doesn’t, however, we could be in for a long second half to the season.
Homecoming is often a chance for students to see those they haven’t seen in a while and take a break from classes. This will not be the case for the men’s and women’s golf teams at Waynesburg University, as they will be in preparations for the President Athletic Conference Championships set for Monday and Tuesday next week. A goal for the women will be to finish outside last place head coach Sam Jones said. Jones has looked at this season so far as an improvement from years past and hopes to see the team continue to grow at the PAC championship. “We have a couple new girls and some of the older girls have improved and some new girls are improving… ” Jones said.“We still have a long way to go but we’ve been much improving than in years past and we’ve been getting better and better each tournament. I’m excited for the upcoming PACs.” One of Waynesburg’s top golfers has been sophomore Samantha Pero who has finished third in two of the last three invitational for the Jackets. She feels that the team holding each other accountable has helped the team grow. “People have been really consistent with committing to the team and actually making it to matches this year,” Pero said. “We can hold each other accountable.” Ultimately, attendance won’t mean much for Pero if the team can’t make progress. “We’re growing in numbers and we’re growing in success,” she said “[We’re] hoping to pass some teams going into fall PAC’s then hoping to keep that going into the spring.” This will be Pero’s second PAC championship of her career after playing at the
Geneva, replacing Tyler Perone. He passed for 126 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Nick Moretti. Despite losing in his first start, Smithley saw a lot of good in Schrenker’s performance.
“Mason is a competitor, Mason wants to do better,” Smithley said. “But at the end of the day you look at what Mason did, and he did some really great things. Mason extended the play, he escaped out of the pock-
Patience Yopb, For the Yellow Jacket
Senior Alex Orlandini looks to lead the men's golf team at the Presidents' Athletic Conference championships Oct. 7-8 in Vienna, Ohio. same course as a freshman. Eyes will also be on junior Deanna Nagel and freshman Allie Delaney who in two of the three invitational have finished first and second for the Jackets. The men had one last
tentially pushing the team farther than expected. “Our goal is to shoot between 320-325,” Orlandini said. “That’s where we think we can put up good numbers and really compete at the PAC champion-
tune up before the PAC championship at the Westminster Invitational Sept. 30. They placed tenth in the invitational. The Jackets are led by senior Alex Orlandini who has placed top two in three of the invitational this year and fourth at Westminster. Going into next week Orlandini feels confident that the team can have a successful day, even po-
ship.” The men’s team has been under new command in head coach Mike Cipoletti and assistant coach Dave Mariner who Orlandini believes have made an impact on the team this year with the different coaching styles but also will make a huge impact on the future. “Coach Cipoletti is more “hands-on” statistical work, choosing the right clubs for
each shot, coach mariner is technical coach (swing) more statistical approach, Jones is more mental game, encouraging when we get frustrated,” Orlandini said . “We have two freshmen in the top five, really growing every year, we have more guys coming up. I think in a couple of years, I think we will be in the top three in the PAC’s consistently” Cipoletti believes if junior Will Purbaugh and Orlandini have a great day, along with sophomore Luke Diel finishing inside the top 10, they have a chance to get into the top three . “The biggest difference on who I think is going to finish top three in this conference and who finishes outside it really comes down to how is your three, four, five guy finishing,” Cipoletti said. “That really will be the difference in a top 3 finish or top 5 finish.” The PAC Championships will commence Oct, 7-8 at Avon Lakes Golf Club in Ohio.
et, he gave his guys opportunities down the field to make those plays.” **** An improved opponent Despite Thiel’s struggles, Smithley sees a lot of development on the Tomcats
squad. He also thinks that this is a stronger Thiel team compared to last season. “They’re getting better, there’s a lot of growth over the last year. I think that always happens when you hire a new coaching staff
and you bring a new energy to the game,” Smithley said. “We’re going to expect a better Thiel team than we played last year. It’s more about us than it is about Thiel. We’ve got to take care of our business first.”
“[We're] hoping to pass some teams going into fall PACs, then hope to keep that going into the spring.” SAMANTHA PERO
Sophomore, Waynesburg Women's Golf