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Athletic Department Jobs Answer Many Needs
Edward Sanchez, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, eas5773@psu.edu
Some students have trouble finding jobs in general and some have trouble with transportation or needing to take the bus from school to their jobs. With these complications, students sometimes find the challenge of a job that fits both the school schedule and their transportation options overwhelming. But what if the job was ON campus!
Director of Athletics Bobbi Caprice, was asked about her role with employment on campus, and the various benefits that come with it. “Those who apply in the summer are usually hired by July, and they work for us through the entire school year. A lot of times students come into my office in October and November looking for a work study job but by that time it’s already too late.’’
She mentioned how they set their semester
long schedule by early August, so students who applied during the summer are more likely to be hired than those who wait until August. Most of the students who work in the fall decide to keep their positions and continue work in the spring as well.
When asked if each position varies by how much you get paid, she mentioned that every position in the athletic department pays the same amount—$9.50/hour. So, each student makes the same amount regardless of the job they land.
Participating in on campus work study employment can also allow one to build connections with others from different students to faculty and staff. When asked about benefits of working on campus, Caprice responded, “It helps students with time management, not having to leave campus and travel to another location, or simply trying to figure out how to get to work with a lot of our students not having their own way of transportation. Another advantage is getting to know different students and faculty, I know for me I was a student worker, and through that I developed a great relationship with the athletic department, which contributed to me landing this position as the director of our athletic department.’’
Work study on campus is a great way for students to find jobs that work with their class schedule and help with not needing to commute or transport to another location when you can simply work on campus. Students should apply for work study as soon as they apply for their financial aid in the spring or summer, since as Bobbie said, “The early bird gets the first worm when it comes to securing a job with campus work study.’’
Super Bowl Halftime Show Hits Home
David Delloso, Lion’s Eye Editor, dud45@psu.edu
On the night of Sunday, February 2, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fl., Super Bowl was played. Patrons watched as Coach Andy Reid lead his Kansas City Chiefs to a 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Fans reveled in Reid’s 222 win which earned him his first Super Bowl title and the first for Kansas City in 50 years.
Fans from all over the country flocked to Miami to witness what is categorized as a great American tradition. Fans who are dedicated to their teams and fans who simply attend for the novelty are equally expected to attend. Some of the fascination of the Super Bowl comes from the pace and aggression of the game.
“The Super Bowl is one of the manliest cultural displays on the planet,” reported Alyssa Rosenberg to The Washington Post. “A huge celebration of men doing lightly regulated violence unto themselves and each other.”
However, fans are given more than just football. After the first two quarters, fans are treated to the Super Bowl Halftime Show. This year’s show was headlined by stars Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.
Shakira and Lopez, and U.S. National Anthem singer Demi Lovato, contrasted the masculine presence of the players.
Yet for the visual display they gave the audience, the appearance and routine are causing concern. Fans and Penn State Brandywine students have noted their concerns with the show being unsuitable for a home viewing family.
The entrance of Lopez raised concerns as many consider dancing poles not family friendly or suitable for all ages. Likewise, Shakira’s disappearing attire also raised red flags.
“J-Lo entered the stage on a stripper pole, wearing leather chaps that gave way to a bedazzled, barely-there bodysuit,” reported Rosenberg. “Shakira’s already tiny outfit shrank as the night went on.”
Penn State student Dylan Mokshefsky voiced his opinion about the performance and their attire.
“J-Lo and Shakira crushed it,” said Mokshefsky. “It was a little more raunchy than I think we are used to.”
However, journalists Jorge Iber and Mario Longoria had a strong opinion in their Hot-Take for NBC News. The pair were very heartened by the performance and are looking forward to the Hispanic heritage in the NFL that may result from the show.
“Super Bowl’s halftime show was historic,” was the headline of Iber and Longoria’s Hot-Take article. The pair later noted the performance, “will certainly be remembered as one of the most impressive performances of the past decade.”
Penn State students Vuk Radulovic and Nikola Radulovic had an opinion similar to Iber and Longoria.
“The halftime performance is the only reason I watched the game,” said Radulovic. “Shakira was great during the World Cup so I wanted to see her again.”
Older brother, Nikola, also admired the performance.
“I liked it because it was very energetic because Shakira and Lopez know how to put on a show,” said Radulovic.
A poll gathered over Common Hour on the afternoons of Feb. 4 and 5 collected 27 votes in favor of the halftime show being family friendly to 5 who thought not family friendly for a ratio of over 5 -1.
If you would like to voice your opinion of the Super Bowl Halftime Show or the Super Bowl, contact the Lions Eye on Twitter @TheLionsEye1.
Sentimental Value of Consoles
By Khaleel Walker, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, kjm6184@psu.edu
With the release of the Nintendo Switch and being a year away from the next generation of consoles, it seems like a good time to talk about the sentimentality of home consoles and handheld consoles.
Many of us grew up around home consoles such as the PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo console systems. Nothing can be more relaxing in which after a day of hard work returning home, sitting down on the couch, and playing an engaging game on one’s television.
Speaking of an engaging, home console videogames tend to be better looking as well as having better sounding than their handheld brethren. Therefore, they can be more immersive; the Xbox One X features high-end graphics and spatial audio to provide a grabbing experience for the player. Another beneficial part of home consoles are local couch-cooperative games. These games such as Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Overcooked, and Halo provided both cooperative and competitive experiences from casual to hardcore players.
However, handheld consoles can be as important to people as much their home counterparts. Let’s use an example of a student who is in between classes and has nothing to do. They could pass the time by pulling out a Nintendo Switch or a PlayStation Vita to help pass the time. With the regular Nintendo Switch, students can play cooperative games with their friends while they wait for their classes to start. It is simply fun to be able to do that.
I went around campus and asked multiple students here at Penn State Brandywine about their own opinions on the subject. Speaking on home consoles, Greg McLauchlan said, “It has basically been the only one I have. I play with my friends and its easier to meet people online.” Jake Iouacchini simply said that home consoles are, “much more powerful than handheld ones.” In contrast, a good amount of students chose handheld consoles as the more sentimental. Student Rahul Gupta stated, “I have it with me everywhere. It helps me in between classes.” Another student, Alex Znamensky also provided input: “I have it all the time. It’s an extension of your hands. It is part of my everyday activity. It’s always been a part of me.” “When you said handheld, I thought PSP (PlayStation Portable)” said student Boubou Magassa. “I have sentimental value with handheld. It was cool because [I could take it] anywhere. And I’m too lazy to set up a home console.” With that all said, many students both care about the value of home and handheld consoles.
It is all about the importance of power verses portability. The home consoles provide many people with power in terms of being a showcase of both graphics and gameplay on the big screens. Meanwhile, other people value the portability of a handheld console which is enough to carry them through a long commute or wait in between class periods. It is ultimately a lifestyle preference and both can provide students an engaging experience when their relaxing from a barrage of college assignments. Pick up a controller and have fun.
Employment Opportunities On Campus
By: Angel Asomugha, Lion’s Eye Editor, axa1519@psu.edu
Attending college should not be a student’s only focus. Yes, a focus on academics and getting good grades is key to success, but college is also a time to network and create valuable lifetime friendships. One of the ways to achieve this is to find a job on campus.
There are different ways Penn State students are able to work on campus. Students are able to work through the Federal Work Study program, Pathway to Success `summer Start (PaSSS) and the Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement program or by looking at PSU Brandywine student employment website.
Each of these programs gives students different avenues for working on campus. Although all three programs are different they share a common goal of helping students find convenient employment and eventually guiding them to find a career after graduation.
Each of the programs that are offered by Penn State Brandywine has certain requirements that must be filled or meet.
Work study is a type of program that is federally funded and is offered through the Free Application For Federal Student Aid. For students who are looking into working through work study, they need to sign up for it on their financial aid application to be considered or approved. The funding will take the form of financial aid.
PaSSS is usually offered to incoming freshmen and allows students to start off their college career in the summer, before their freshman year, allowing them to earn six credits and to work as well—either during the summer or when the fall semester starts. Claire Nolan, Enrollment Services Specialist describes it, “PaSSS is a great opportunity for students to get acclimated to college life. PaSSS students take two courses in the summer and can also choose to work on campus through the program.”
The Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement office is that works hand-in-hand with Federal Work Study as well. Vippy Yee, as the director, focuses the employment efforts to those with community partners, which can be both on and off-campus. Students from all majors are encouraged to seek employment; some of these positions can be funded through federal work study funding as well.
If a student does not qualify for any of the funded programs they can still apply for salaried position as a regular employee and go through the application process to be considered. Some of the other places where students can work is the Blue Apple Café, library, mailroom and the gym. Try psu.jobs for more information.
What Brandywine Students Think About the Upcoming Democratic Presidential Primaries
By: Jeffrey Reed, Lion’s Eye Editor, jmr6915@psu.edu
With the upcoming Democratic Primary election fast approaching, students all over the Brandywine campus have been hotly debating everything politics; from gun legislation to healthcare, no debate is off-limits. Over the past week, some students have participated in a survey – providing their thoughts on the primaries. The survey asked two simple questions: “What is the most important issue in the upcoming primary,” and “who is your favored candidate.” The survey, which consisted of 25 Brandywine students, 15 male and 10 female, all aged between 18 and 22, should not be considered a campus-wide consensus; however, it may serve as a sneak-peak at what is to be expected at Brandywine’s upcoming mock primary event. So, what did the results say?
The overall winner of the poll was Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with a total of nine votes out of the total 25. Second came businessman Andrew Yang with six votes; former Vice President Joe Biden placed third with five votes; fourth place went to the South Bend Indiana Mayor, Pete Buttigieg and to round off the voting, California Sen. Kamala Harris and former Texas Senatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke received one vote each, leaving them in fifth place. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, New Jersey Senator Corey Booker, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro each received 0 votes; while one participant chose not to vote.
While Sanders is the clear front-runner in the overall polling, things become much closer when considering whether the participants would or would not be voting in the upcoming primary. Out of the 25 participants, 16 said they would be voting, eight said they would not and one chose not to answer.
When only counting those who would be voting in the primary, Sanders’ nine votes become six while Biden’s votes stay at five, making it a tight race. While Sanders’ three lost votes hurt his lead, the second-place candidate Andrew Yang drops down to a tie for fifth. This would put Yang in the lead among non-voters with five choosing him, three choosing Sanders and one choosing not to answer.
When considering gender, the overall placement of the candidates does not change much. Among females, Sanders holds the lead with three while Biden and Yang tie for second with two apiece. Harris and O’Rourke stay at one vote each while Buttigieg joins them with only one of his two supporters being female. Among males, Sanders again holds the lead with six, but Yang manages to sneak into second place with four votes, just one ahead of Biden’s three. Buttigieg again holds one vote placing him in fourth while Harris and O’Rourke received no votes from any males.
On the question of the most important issue, the students were asked to choose one of the following: the climate, free college, debt forgiveness, gun policy, immigration, healthcare, the economy, foreign affairs, or the participant could have chosen other and listed their own most important issue. Of these, six answered the climate, four healthcare, two foreign affairs, three free college, one debt forgiveness, four gun policy, two the economy and three immigration. While each issue holds a different amount of importance with each individual, this survey shows that among those polled, the climate, healthcare and gun policy are the three most important issues in the upcoming primary.
Among those who considered climate to be the most important issue, three of the six support Sanders, while the other three who thought climate was the most important issue supported Biden, Yang and Buttigieg. Of those who saw healthcare as the most important issue, two supported Biden, one supported Beto and one chose not to answer. Those who thought gun policy was the most important issue voted for Yang twice, Biden once, and Buttigieg once. In the categories of free college and debt forgiveness, Sanders made a clean sweep, while Yang did the same with the economy voters. Sanders held the majority support of those who thought immigration was of the utmost importance with two of the three supporting him and the one who did not support him chose to support Harris instead. Finally, among the two who participants who chose foreign affairs as the most important issue, one chose Biden and the other chose Yang.
All of these results could very well change over the proceeding months with more debates, tweets and “hot takes” sure to change the public view of the candidates for better or for worse. Be sure to keep an eye out for Brandywine’s upcoming mock primary so that you can have your voice be heard. And make sure to get out there to discuss and debate, because as Jesse Jackson once said, “Deliberation and debate is the way you stir the soul of our democracy.”
Introducing Brandywine to New Faculty
By: Matt Marsh, Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, mwm6137@psu.edu
With the start of a new academic year and fall term, one naturally thinks of the new field of freshman and transfer students, but it also is a time when new faculty and staff get acclimated to the Brandywine campus and community.
The academic affairs team added four new staff members coming into this school year as well as four faculty members. Zoia Pavlovskaia, lecturer in business, Kimeta Straker, coordinator for student success and retention coordinator, and Anna Bachus coordinator of student disability resources are just three of those being introduced.
Zoia Pavlovskaia teaches in the business department at Brandywine. Pavlovskaia graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with an undergraduate degree in international marketing and an M.B.A in marketing. Before teaching, Pavlovskaia worked in business, sales, sports marketing, public relations, brand management, and social media management in the U.S. and Russia. She expects that her, “industry experience allows students to experience both the practical and theoretical application of business concepts.”
Keep an eye out for Professor Pavlovskaia at Fair Trade events on campus where she will be bringing her knowledge and know-how to the community. Since Brandywine is the only Fair Trade campus among the Penn State campuses, she said, “I’m eager to be a part of the Fair Trade efforts here at Penn State Brandywine.”
Kimeta Straker has a goal of student success and, especially for incoming freshman, student camaraderie. Coming from the University of Connecticut where she was employed for 15 years as the assistant director of advising. She anticipates that coming to a smaller campus, “allows faculty and staff to be able work together towards student success.” A goal Straker set her sights on is to galvanize the students around the brand of Penn State, “whether it’s a hashtag, or an event, or some type of activity that would bring students together to talk about what it was that attracted them to Brandywine.”
With Fall 2019 being her first “start” of an academic year at Brandywine, she has already dubbed the class of 2023 #Tenacious23Brandywine because she is hopeful they are tenacious enough to have a great experience from the start of their first semester until their last in 2023.
Anna Bachus started working at Brandywine in late January and from her first day she has worked as, “an advocate for students with disabilities on our campus and to help the campus community ensure that we are inclusive and accessible for those with disabilities.” Transitioning to Brandywine Bachus was, “very excited about the opportunity to work on a small, intimate campus and she has really enjoyed having the ability to develop strong relationships with the campus community here.”
Come say hello to the new staff who can all be found on the second floor of the Main Building.
As the new academic year kicks off note that there are new faces all over the campus ranging from incoming freshman to transfer students all the way to new faculty and staff, so be sure to wave to a stranger and hug a friend. The new school year is here.
Public Access for PSU By David M. Delloso, Jr.
Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, home to Penn State Brandywine, maintains one of the largest municipally-owned open space systems in the Philadelphia area, according to Middletown’s website, Middletowndelcopa.gov. The lands consist of open spaces, privately owned areas with public access and a lengthy trail system. PSU students are invited to use the facilities as community members for recreation, exercise and fresh air.
In 1986, Middletown launched Project 300, a collaborative community effort to preserve the natural lands for residents of the Township. Middletown’s website explains the initiative as pivotal to protecting the lands.
“Middletown was felt to be a key element in helping to retain and protect the present character and quality of life of our community,” according to Middletowndelcopa.gov.
As public facilities, there is no entry fee for almost all of the trails and parks. Residents of Delaware and surrounding counties are invited to use the lands as desired.
Middletown’s trail system has systems ranging from about one mile to around four miles. The trails in the system are multi-purposed with paved trails for walking, running and bike riding to horse riding trails offered along the Rocky Run trail.
Trails in Middletown Township and Delaware County include the Cornucopia, Darlington, Rocky Run, Indian Orchard, Linvill, Millennium, Sleighton and the Chester Creek Rail-Trail.
The Chester Creek Rail-Trail is a paved trail that runs along the Chester Creek off Mt. Alverno Road, roughly half a mile from Linvilla Orchards on Knowlton Road. With multiple sections of pull-off lots, visitors can access free parking. Available nearing the two-mile marker is parking on Mt. Alverno.
The paved path is roughly ten-foot-wide asphalt that winds down along the creek with bridges guarded with high railings. Lined alongside the path is high power electrical lines that add to the landscape a bit of urban appeal.
Middletown Township also is home to the privately owned and operated Tyler Arboretum. Located at 515 Painter Road, Tyler Arboretum offers memberships, family and individual, and day passes for visitors to examine plants and horticulture exhibits as well as seasonal exhibits and special events. PSU students can find free passes to the grounds through the Vairo library.
New transfer student Chris DeLeo recounted on his latest trip to the arboretum.
“I went with my Grandmother. It was a very nice day,” said DeLeo. “My favorites included the tree houses in the rhododendron and the giant sequoia.”
The arboretum is not served by regional buses, according to Tylerarboretum.org, but students can use ride share services such as Uber or Lyft to access the grounds. Tyler offers visitors a gift shop with stuffed animals and apparel as well as refreshments and small snacks.
For families in Middletown and neighboring communities, Linvilla Orchards and the Linvill trail are close in proximity for attractions and exercise alike.
Linvilla Orchards in Middletown is a recreational area with seasonal attractions, such as Pumpkinland in the fall and guided fruit picking trips in the spring. Guests are also encouraged to visit the animal exhibits and the fishing pond which are open 11 months of the year. Visitors are invited to explore the grounds year-round with available free parking.
First year Brandywine student, Dan Nearey, described his experience at Linvilla in the recent years.
“I went for the apple slingers. (Linvilla) sets up catapults then lets you shoot apples at targets in the fields.”
Like Linvilla, Middletown is also looking to create activities more for their visitors.
Middletown Township is currently working on expansion of their trail network to create a longer system along the Chester and Ridley Creeks. Middletown hopes to connect the trails for a greater outdoor experience.
According to Middletown’s website, “Interconnecting (trails) and other significant open space tracts to provide an even greater opportunity for residents to enjoy the natural beauty and diversity of our community.”
Students are encouraged to go beyond the bounds of campus and explore their neighboring facilities.
For more information on Middletown Township and contact information about the trail systems, visit www.Middletowndelcopa.gov. For event information at Linvilla Orchards, visit www.Linvilla.com.
Brandywine Athletics
By: Brad Dawson, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, bpd13@psu.edu
There is a unique athletic opportunity that exists at Brandywine, an opportunity for student-athletes to get recruited, or even walk on in the sport of interest. For the student who wants to play a team sport, but did not leave high school with an athletic scholarship, this is an alternative. Brandywine athletics are at the top of our conference for a reason and that is the opportunity for everyone to play.
The Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference(PSUAC) is the conference Brandywine competes in for all their athletics. Brandywine has opportunities for all incoming freshman or current students to try out for any team. Teams hold tryouts to fill roster spots or just to see if anyone is interested in competing. Coaches even learn the names of people interested in playing from the involvement club fair at the beginning of the year.
Dalton Palmer is a prime example of an athlete who was able to get recruited to play baseball. He played in high school and got recruited by the baseball coach from Penn State Brandywine. He worked hard and was able to commit in his senior year.
“It was a hard process that my coach made easy. He always checked in on me and showed me around campus one day. I fell in love with the school as it felt home for me. Now since I am a sophomore and have my freshman year down, I am more excited to play and ready for the upcoming challenges.”
One thing that Brandywine Athletics make a commitment to, is academics for all the athletes. School comes first and the coaches and athletics department are always there to help athletes if they are having trouble in the classroom. The required freshman athletic seminar is also a way for incoming athletes to stay on track with school and time management when making the transition into college. This one credit course is taught by Brandywine’s Athletic Director, Bobbi Caprice. This is a great way for freshmen to get to know other freshman athletes and Bobbi.
Caprice is in charge of showing recruits the campus and staying in touch with students while recruiting them. It is their main goal to help new recruits feel welcomed to the Brandywine family.
Recruits have to opportunity to sit in classes and even stay overnight, if needed, in the dorms. Caprice tells us this, “day in a life of a Brandywine student,” helps the student experience school and athletics.
An example of a walk-on athlete is Austin Aurillo. Last year he walked on as a golf player. He helped Brandywine win its school’s first-ever win for the golf team. He walked-on senior year, so was only able to play one year, but the experience will last a lifetime.
“I loved the opportunity to play golf for my college. It was an experience like no other and I am beyond thankful for all the memories and friendships created. I still talk to my old teammates on a regular basis. I was nervous being the new walk on for the team but they opened their arms to me and we had an amazing year together as a team.”
Brandywine’s athletics are top in their division for a reason and the commitment to flexibility plays a big role. Every team has walk-ons who play with heart and soul every night for their team to help them win. Coaches do a great job letting students try out because sometimes, they get surprised by a great walk on athlete who amazes the crowds.
The Brandywine Book Club Promotes Literacy On Campus
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.