Month: October 2018

The Brandywine Book Club Promotes Literacy On Campus

Posted By under Campus News, Uncategorized

By: Diana Dopheide, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, dmd5846@psu.edu

In the fall of 2018, the Brandywine Book Club and the Brandywine Common Read Committee collaborated in order to create an environment in which students, faculty and staff can all participate in a literate environment on campus.

Previously, the Common Read Committee selected a book yearly and encouraged faculty to utilize the text in their curriculum by analyzing various themes and their significance.

Within the last year, the Brandywine Book Club was created for students to develop critical thinking and literacy skills.

This year, the two organizations decided to combine in order to engage both students and faculty through book club discussions.

The book club still follows its original format with monthly meetings and discussion questions; all students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate.

The collaboration of all campus members is beneficial to the book club and its growth.

“It is a wide array of perspectives that are gathered in our meetings, which benefits all participants. Encouraging community on campus helps engagement, and hopefully helps book club members feel a little more like they have a place at Brandywine,” said Annie Jansen, a reference and instruction librarian.

The common goal of the two organizations is to promote literacy collaboration among all individuals of the Brandywine campus.

“As a faculty member, I hope that the merging of Common Read and the Book Club might lead to more stimulating conversations between students, staff and faculty, and contribute to a richer, more vibrant intellectual atmosphere on campus,” said Jim Berkey, assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Studio.

So far, the club has read two books, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and Fun Home by Alison Bechdel.

“These two books are important to show students, faculty, and staff that being a ‘reader’ is not defined by reading classic novels, but really by engaging with any type of narrative structure, including pictures and sounds,” said Jansen.

These novels were chosen because of the themes presented, including gun violence, interpersonal relationships and LGBTQ rights.

“We chose books whose subject matter informs and responds to larger cultural conversations in today’s society and whose subject matter might be relevant to our students’ lives,” said Berkey. The club plans on continuing to choose novels among the young adult genre in order to target the college community.

“Given the challenges of talking about issues like this as well as the emotional reactions, learning to discuss these ideas with other people and learning to be open to different points of view is crucial for critical thinking. The fact that these topics are prevalent in the news also increases critical thinking skills, because it helps students connect with the broader culture,” said Berkey.

These topics also promote literacy in various genres by creating assimilation through other’s inputs.

“Reading literature improves empathy and socialization, and the dialogue around encourages a type of empathetic understanding and civility,” said Jansen.     

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to join the book club’s monthly discussions in Vairo 110. The meetings occur the third Tuesday of every month and last from 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Penn State With Huge Game on the Line Comes Up Short at the End of the Game.

Posted By under Sports

Connor Crawford, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, clc6080@psu.edu

Penn State football had a Big Ten matchup that had very big playoff implications when the Nittany Lions hosted Ohio State on Saturday, September 29. Penn State had the lead for a majority of the game, until a very ugly ending. The game ended sending every Penn State fan away sad and unhappy with the play call.

Penn State surrendered a late lead and had to succeed in a game winning final drive. It was a sad ending as head coach James Franklin tried to catch Ohio State off guard by running the ball on a crucial fourth and five.

It started out as a very hyped-up day in college football for the battle between Ohio State and Penn State. Many sports writers predicted this game to be the game of the year in college football. Fans were out early in Happy Valley—some as early as six in the morning, because ESPN’s College Gameday was broadcasting from the HUB lawn. Fans were out with their signs and game day helmets on. Happy Valley was as electric as it could be all day. Penn State made this game a white out game and, if you follow Penn State football you know, that it means it’s an extremely big game. The white out game is when every fan wears white; it is a well-known tradition in college football.

Fans were excited and ready. I talked to a senior student Alex Masino who attends Penn State University Park campus and he told me, “This was the most excitement and energy that I have seen and felt on this campus since I got here.” I also talked to a Penn State alumni member, Freddie Titmen, about what he thought of the energy around the campus. He said, “It has been a while since I’ve attended the school, but I’ll tell you, this this is most important game for Penn State in the last 13 years at least.” The whole campus was charged with energy all weekend.

The game started off great. Penn State jumped to a 13-7 lead before the half. They then lost the lead in the third quarter as the offense sputtered and couldn’t get anything going to start the half. The fourth quarter of the game was down to the wire—especially the last minutes of the game. Penn State seemed to turn their offense back on and ended up regaining the lead. But in the game’s final four minutes, Ohio State again took the lead. The pressure was on. Trace McSorley and the offense had three minutes to go down field and either kick a field goal for the win or score a touchdown. Trace McSorley, arguably, was playing the best game of his career so in

the fourth quarter the game plan was to keep the ball in his hands at all cost. Penn State traveled down field until they hit a roadblock and had a fourth and five. On fourth and five James Franklin decided to change to a halfback draw. It was unsuccessful and cost Penn State the game.

The biggest talk around Penn State campus is why James Franklin decided to run. I asked my friend Derek Strain, “I have no clue on why that was the play call, Trace has been playing the best game of his career and you decide to run; I just don’t get it.” The play call on that final play was something that disappointed a lot of fans. Franklin did take the blame, “We obviously did not make the right play call.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6zBzZSitDc

Playoffs might not happen this year after that loss to rival Ohio State but fans are still optimistic about the season and the future of the program. I asked another alumni member, Chris Duke, after the game what he thinks about the rest of the season and how close we are to the playoffs. He said, “We have a close shot this year but it’s not likely after this loss, but I do believe this team will be in the playoffs in the next three years.”

The season is not over for Penn State football; they still have six games left on the year and still have a shot at making playoffs. They will just have to win the rest of their games and hope for a couple of things to go their way to reach playoffs. The program is moving in the right direction as they have been nationally ranked for the past three years.

It’s time to Vote Brandywine!!!!

Posted By under Uncategorized

By: Cole Young, Lion’s Eye Staff cry5060@psu.edu

We’re closing in on November 6, which is Election Day this year. For many at Penn State Brandywine it will be their first opportunity to cast their vote. While it isn’t a presidential election, these elections are still highly important. The position of Pennsylvania governor is up for grabs, as well as seats in Congress. Many local offices are also going to be contested this November.

The 2018 elections will still have a huge impact on our government, and you can have your say. To get to know more about how Brandywine helps students learn about the voting process, I talked to the Center of Ethics and Civic Engagement Director, Vippy Yee.

“Part of what we’ve been doing is collaborating with other groups on campus. For example, for Constitution Day I worked very closely with the library. We had a national voter registration drive that day as well as recorded students on camera voicing what issues are important to them. Those videos are going to be turned into PSAs and distributed around campus on all the different screens leading up to the election.”

This semester the Center of Ethics and Civic Engagement has been working diligently to prepare students for the election.

“We’ve had seven voter registrations this semester. I’ve partnered with the Library, Orchard Hall and the Civic and Community Engagement Club. We had two drives in Orchard Hall, as well as a few in the Student Union Building.”

Unfortunately, for those who still need to register, the October 9 deadline has passed. However, it seems that many students have already registered to vote.

“What was really enlightening about the process was that a lot of students are already signed up. We tried to engage as many students as we could and often we found that they had already signed up. In those cases we directed students to a website where they could check their registration and make sure their voter registration was active, had the right information and that they’d definitely be able to vote. There were instances of students whose registration was not active in the way they thought it would be. In those cases we took those students and had them register immediately.”

Even though many students had already registered, the drives were still very successful.

“Of the brand new registrations, those who said they’d never registered before and would like to now, I would say we registered about 70 students.”

There still are more things to do after getting students registered. Yee explained,

“The first step was getting students registered, whether that was through registration drives, Constitution Day or National Voter Registration Day. Now we’re into our voter education phase. A lot of students explained that they didn’t know who to vote for or that they didn’t what we’re talking about. These elections are called the midterm elections which means that all 435 seats in the U.S House of Representatives are up for grabs. That means whether a student is from Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey or anywhere else in the U.S they have a member of congress they’re going to be voting on. In Pennsylvania there’s the governor’s race, a senate race, and state legislature races. The second phase is helping students understand what are their resources to learn more about candidates.”

Now Brandywine students may be wondering where they can go to vote and the answer is closer than you think.

“If you’ve registered with this address your voting location is actually across the street from the Main Building at the Easter Seals school.”

Now if you’re on the fence about voting, maybe this incentive will help.

“We are part of the Big Ten Challenge which is a competition to see which Big Ten school can get the most students to get registered and then go out and vote. Penn State does very well, but we really do want to win this contest. I would hope you’re voting, because of your civic duty, but there’s also Penn State pride. We can’t let Michigan beat us.”

Voting is a very important thing in our country, and we at the Lion’s Eye hope to see you at the polls November 6!

 

ROTC: Receiving The Military Training and a College Degree

Posted By under Campus News

By: Diana Dopheide, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, dmd5846@psu.edu

The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, ROTC, was created in 1916. Army training courses are offered locally at West Chester University and Widener University; so Brandywine students can enroll in the program, and upon graduation serve their country as military officers.

ROTC is taught at nearly 2,000 colleges across the country. The program teaches leadership management that students will need in order to become second lieutenant officers in the armed forces.

Students learn fundamental military skills in ROTC, but the program differs from basic training in that the focus is on learning organizational techniques and managing operations.

Cadets, who are trainees in the armed forces, do not join the active army; they are required to finish their academic degree, and their service commitment begins after graduation.

The ROTC program is offered through Brandywine; students sign up for the required courses while scheduling their academic semester. The classes are taken in exchange for electives along with their major.

Since the courses are not held at Brandywine, students take the classes off-campus at West Chester University and Widener University.

Benefits for contracted cadets include free tuition and housing as well as a small monthly budget ranging from $100 to $300 depending on the student’s year in college.

Cadets learn battle tactics, critical thinking, navigation and weapon qualification. Students partake in daily labs, which teach simple attacks, maneuvers and ambushes.

The physical training consists of strength building workouts four times a week in addition to weighted marches, which prepares cadets for carrying their gear while on patrol.

“We will use these skills every day when we take our platoon out on patrols in foreign places,” said Brendan Cleary, a Brandywine student enrolled in ROTC.

The field experience involves a weekend of camping held at the Fort Dix Military Base in New Jersey. Cadets sleep outdoors and enact realistic scenarios through keeping watch and guarding their troops throughout the night.

They apply the skills they have learned in class by practicing land navigation with compasses, problem solving and team building in various conditions.

Cleary is passionate about his future role as a second lieutenant officer in the army.

“I want to serve because I like what the army stands for, and I believe that if you have the capacity to serve, you should.”

Cleary plans to use his current field of study, computer science, in his army occupation. “I have the option to include my major into my career if I were to choose a branch such as cyber security; a necessary and growing branch.”

The skills that are taught in ROTC are useful in any profession outside of the army as many employers seek leadership abilities.

“The army teaches great values such as discipline and hard work which are the key to success in any job,” said Cleary.

 

MarComm Club Hosts Fall Event on Campus: A Basketball Tournament

Posted By under Campus News, Uncategorized

By: Meghan Coyle, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, mtc5382@psu.edu

Cold temperatures and wind didn’t stop students from coming out to support their friends on the evening of Wednesday, October 17 when Penn State Brandywine’s MarComm Club took full advantage of the new, lighted outdoor basketball courts to host a basketball tournament on campus.

Bobbi Caprice, assistant athletic director, recruiting/intramural/fitness center coordinator said, “We just put them (the lights) up. The courts are just a little over a year old. The lights just got moved to the courts this summer.” The courts are available for students to use, unless they are reserved for an event. Caprice said, “They (the lights) currently stay on until 11 p.m.”

The tournament kicked off at 6 p.m., when the players arrived, checked in and paid. The cost of the tournament was $3 per person. Twelve teams with three players each participated in the event. Some teams had four players, allowing them to make substitutions. However, that was not the case for all of the teams.

The first game began at 6:10 p.m., and there were two games being played at once, with each game being played on one half of the court. Since games were being played on just one court, this allowed players from other teams to use the other court to warm up.

Games were played for 15 minutes or until one of the teams scored 21 points. A total of 11 games were played, and a couple of them went into overtime since they were tied after 15 minutes. Spectators gathered around the court to watch.

When it got down to the final four teams, there was a slight break in the action, and there was the opportunity to take half-court shots for $1. After the half-court shots finished up, two games were played to determine the two teams who would play in the final game of the night.

Before the final game of the night, the Lion’s Roar step team performed for the crowd of people gathered along the sidelines of the courts. They received much applause from the crowd both at the end of their performance, and during their performance.

Finally, it was time for the final game of the night. The winning team, as well as the runner-up team both received T-shirts for making it to the final game. The winners also received $60 and were excited about winning the tournament.

Garrett Ripp, one of the players on the winning team said, “I have never had a greater feeling.”

Spectators braved the cold weather to come out and support their favorite team(s) and/or player(s).

Overall, the tournament was a success for the MarComm Club. The players and others who came out to the event seemed to enjoy it.

Student Activities

Posted By under Uncategorized
Penn State Brandywine students listen to Carlos Andrés Gómez during a Truth Tuesday Spoken Word Series.
Penn State Brandywine students listen to Carlos Andrés Gómez during a Truth Tuesday Spoken Word Series.

By: Laura Wilson, Lions Eye Staff Writer, lcw5189@psu.edu

Penn State Brandywine’s Student Activities host different events every week that everyone can attend. Student activities staff works tirelessly every year to bring fun new things to campus. They start every year with their Week of Welcome.

“This year the Week of Welcome started from Saturday, August 18 and went until Friday, August 24, which was during the first week of classes. We had seven to eight events. There were escape rooms which were really popular and we had our first, First Friday, event which was an arcade movie event. The movie event had over 80 people attend so I think that was a good way to start the year with lots of people knowing that there are student activities happening on campus,” said Assistant Director of Student ActivitiesBridget O’Donnell.

Since the Week of Welcome, there have been many more activities held. You can find the schedule of activities each week on the Brandywine Bulletin which is emailed to students every Monday at 8:00 a.m. One can also find out about activities through the monthly Commode Commentary, or through their social media pages. Instagram and Facebook: @psubrandywinesa.

Do you want to go to an event but it is over lunch or dinnertime? There is no need to choose between the two because, “most events have free food since a lot of them are during the dinner or lunch hour so students don’t have to choose between going to the program or going to eat; you can get both,” O’Donnell.

Student activities are trying out some new events this year as well as improving events from last year.“Truth Tuesdays have shifted gears from full 60-90 minute speakers to a shorter “spoken words” series. A spoken word artist comes on campus and tells their stories, journeys or experiences through poems and interactions. This happens one Tuesday every month for five months,” said O’Donnell.

A new event coming to campus this year is the haunted library, which is an overnight event. “The haunted library overnight event starts at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30 and goes until 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31. There is a full schedule of events‑some of which include a costume contest, a pizza party, scary movies, scary stories, a game design competition and many more. It ends with a pumpkin Halloween breakfast in the morning,” said O’Donnell. Even if you are not able to come for the whole 12 hours you are still able to check it out.

Going to student activities is a great way to make new friends, have fun and even get free food! “There is a ton of stuff going on through October and November. Keep an eye out on the Brandywine bulletins to find the most up to date information all across campus,” said O’Donnell.

Students of the New Millennium Enter Brandywine

Posted By under Campus News

By: Cole Young, Lion’s Eye Staff, cry5060@psu.edu

It’s the start of another year at Brandywine, and with it brings a new generation of students. This freshmen class is the first group of students born in the year 2000.

Famed American philanthropist Tom Steyer once said, “We will pay a heavy price if we insist on navigating the 21st century with a 20th century mindset.”

With them they’ll bring a new mindset and new ideas that will make them successful in the 21st century. The last few weeks these students have been spending time getting adjusted to college life. We were able to catch up with them and ask a few questions.

Penn State Brandywine was some people’s first choice, and a little further down the list for others. Many picked the campus, because it was close to their home. Other freshmen explained that they enjoyed the small campus, and the reduced cost compared to University Park.

So what made students choose Penn State? Three students explain what they liked about Brandywine.

“It actually wasn’t my first choice believe it or not. I remember the day when they brought us to hear other students’ stories about Brandywine. When they talked about the proximity to home and all the opportunities available it really piqued my interest,” said Vaishalli Devarakonda.

“It was fairly local and it was a lot cheaper than a lot of the schools I was looking at, and it has a really good engineering program,” said Sean Callahan, a mechanical engineering major.

“The faculty here are super helpful and nice, and that was a plus for me,” said Jordan Esterling.

As they’ve adjusted to college life, incoming students have been fans of many facets of Penn State Brandywine. So far, they’ve been enjoying the small class sizes, the Penn State community, and more.

Callahan said, “I really like the campus, the open feel and it’s a really nice look. The people here have been really nice so far.”

“I like the small class sizes, and the attention that professors are able to give to you is great,” said Esterling.

“I really like the atmosphere here after being in high school for the last four years. It reminds me of that. It’s comfortable, while at the same time it’s new enough to not be boring to me,” said Sean Hackett.

Students have come to Brandywine to pursue a wide array of majors. Brandywine has a lot to offer and they are taking advantage of it. Many were attracted by all that Penn State Brandywine has in store for them.

“I’m an English major, and I chose that because I’d like to be able to tell stories in a professional capacity,” said freshman Eric McGinty.

“My major is mechanical engineering, and I picked it because I have a strong foundation in math. I enjoy solving problems and most other things that engineers do,” said Callahan.

These newcomers are also taking advantage of Brandywine’s many clubs and activities. Whether they’re trying something new, or picking up where they left off in high school, these freshmen are getting involved.

McGinty said. “I’m involved in the writing club and the acting club. While they haven’t really gotten going yet, I’m looking forward to the opportunities that I’ll get in these clubs.”

Overall, except for a few complaints about commuting, the new group of freshmen are enjoying Brandywine. They claim to enjoy what it has to offer, and like what they see so far during the first semester. Hopefully, they’ll be able to discover everything Brandywine has to offer and excel in all their pursuits.

* * * *

Labor Day: Not Just the End of Summer

Posted By under Campus News

By: Meghan Coyle, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, mtc5382@psu.edu

Labor Day is typically associated with the end of summer, and, for some, that means one last trip to the beach, a long weekend, or just a day off from work or school to relax. Although many enjoy the day off relaxing or soaking up the sun, it’s important to know the historical significance and reason why Americans have off on Labor Day.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, “The first government recognition came through municipal ordinances passed in 1885 and 1886.” The person who originated the idea isn’t entirely known, and, according to history.com, “Many credit Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, while others have suggested that Matthew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union…” The first official celebration of Labor Day was with a parade in New York City on September 5, 1882, which was a Tuesday that year.

Now, in 2018, 136 years after that first celebration of Labor Day, is Labor Day celebrated differently?

The U.S. Department of Labor website states that, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

Some schools give students a day off on Labor Day, as was the case with Penn State Brandywine.

Penn State Brandywine students were treated to a day off from school for Labor Day, giving them a three-day weekend. Sam Shanahan, a human development and family studies (HDFS) major spent her long weekend doing a wide variety of things.

She said, “Friday night, I did homework. Saturday was fun. I chilled for the first half of the day, walked my dog and went to the Phillies game. That (the Phillies game) was the highlight of my weekend. Sunday, I went to the gym. Monday (Labor Day), I played with my cockapoo.”

There are plenty of ways to spend a long weekend, but it was also nice for students to just have the day off from classes.
Brandywine student Tahjir Ellis spent his Labor Day where most people aspire to spend their Labor Day, besides the beach, and said, “I went to a barbecue.”

History.com lists parades, picnics, barbecues and fireworks displays as some of the many ways Americans celebrate Labor Day each year. Clearly, there are many ways to celebrate Labor Day and the long weekend that often comes with it, but it’s also important to keep in mind the real reason behind the holiday: to honor American workers’ achievements.

Changes, but the Same Goals for Brandywine sports

Posted By under Sports

Brandywine men’s basketball holding PSUAC banner and trophy after winning the title. Photo Credit; Brandywine athletics.

Connor Crawford, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, clc6080@psu.edu

Athletics is an area in sports that is constantly changing. Players change and leave, team rankings change, and personnel change. Athletics at Brandywine is no different. Change is a thing that everyone and every team has to deal with; the key thing is to see how these things affect the teams.
Brandywine’s Coordinator of Athletic Programs Jeffrey Scarpone, talked about the new head coach for men’s basketball. “Coach Justin Dunbar-Stevens was hired in July and seems to have everything moving well for the team. He was an assistant coach for a few different schools and knows the D3 league pretty well. Now he finally gets his shot at a head coach job. The basketball team has a lot of returning players, so they are expecting another great season out of the men’s basketball team,” said Scarpone.

They won the conference championship last year so the returning players know what it’s like to win and can help the younger guys out. “We are expecting big things out of men’s basketball again, just like last year.”
The women’s soccer team also has a new coach. Elise Pratt, who played division one soccer, is a recent grad (2017) from University of Delaware. Although it’s only been a short time, Pratt is enjoying working with the returning team. They lost their first game 4-3 against Wesley College—a tough team in the league.

Brandywine women’s soccer is looking to be competitive again in this league. They have their sights set on another conference title, which would be the team’s third conference title in a row.
Scarpone’s goals for all fall sports is that they all stay competitive.

Last year men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball all went undefeated and won their conference titles. So from that Scarpone says, “the three team sports in the fall played very well and look to do the same this year as they stay focused and competitive.”
The men’s and women’s cross country teams are all off to a good start, as one of the freshman Brian Able, won the Delaware Valley invitational. He is Brandywine’s first male runner to win a race in the invitational. Freshman Katherine Mooney finished second place in her first her race. So both of those teams are off to running starts. The men’s golf team finished seventh in September. They are in their second year back after not having a team for nearly five years. Overall “Penn State Brandywine’s sports teams look to have very good seasons, and stay competitive in conference play,” said Scarpone. Good luck to all Penn State Brandywine fall athletes for a healthy, successful season.

The Commons Building is Up and Running

Posted By under Uncategorized

By: Laura Wilson, Lions Eye Staff Writer, lcw5189@psu.edu

As part of the on-going Penn State Brandywine expansion, which began with residence life in Orchard Hall and a Student Union, the Commons/Athletic Center has received a makeover. The Commons renovation was started in late May 2018 and completed late in September 2018. These renovations have added many new additions to the campus. According to Brandywine’s website, “The project cost $3.4 million dollars, which was funded by campus donors, match funding from University Park, the Brandywine Student Facilities Committee and Penn State’s Office of the Physical Plant.”

The completion of the Commons building has brought many new and improved amenities to Penn State Brandywine. “These include a new commuter lounge, nurse’s station, athletic training room, a new police services office and an expanded, state-of-the-art fitness center,” according to Brandywine’s website.

The renovations benefit many different areas on campus. One of the larger programs it will benefit is the athletics programs. The new fitness center and athletic training room are two of the perks of these renovations.

“A lot of our student athletes didn’t work out here on campus because it was so condensed in years past, so the fitness center is going to be tripled in size. We are also getting over $100,000 worth of new equipment. The athletic training room will also triple in size. One of the biggest changes is that we are getting air conditioning in the gym,” said Athletic Director Sarah Kurpel.

The process did not come without some hardships. Although most of the work was scheduled for the summer months, many professors, coaches and athletes were displaced during the renovations. They found temporary offices throughout campus.

“One of the biggest problems was that it displaced all of us and specifically the students,” said Kurpel. Athletes who were around in the summer were unable to train or work out while the gym was closed and, “Since the gym was not available, the volleyball team had to practice off campus.”

The new renovations may have presented some obstacles, but go see for yourself if the craziness was worth it.